By Scott Olson, The IBJ\
solson@ibj.com
A Washington, D.C.-based alternative-energy company claims it could create up to 20,000 jobs in Indiana by manufacturing its green-energy supply system somewhere in the state.
Its goal, however, would far exceed anything accomplished in the wind-turbine production industry.
The D'Arcinoff Group Inc. said it is exploring seven sites in Indiana, including one where it would locate a manufacturing headquarters, and is in discussions with the Indiana Economic Development Corp.
An IEDC spokeswoman declined to confirm whether the agency has talked with D'Arcinoff and had no comment on its ambitious job projections.
The company said it would use closed automotive plants and existing skilled labor to produce its unique wind turbine, called the DG Energy System.
Nationally, D'Arcinoff said it could employ more than 100,000 people to manufacture, operate and service its turbines. The company also is considering locating operations in Delaware, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, New York and Ohio.
Vince Griffin, vice president of energy and environmental affairs at the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, would welcome the jobs in Indiana but is skeptical the company could create that many.
"When we hear these bombastic numbers you always have to be careful," Griffin said.
The company would request federal loan guarantees to start production. It has applied for an export loan guarantee with the Export-Import Bank of the United States to produce wind turbines at two upstate New York locations.
The world's largest wind-power company is Denmark-based Vestas, which began making turbines in 1979 and employs 20,000 people. It produces about 2,900 wind turbines a year and recently reported shrinking demand.
D'Arcinoff's plan counts on producing 30,000 wind turbines a year, 10 times the number produced by Vestas and Connecticut-based General Electric, another of the world's largest makers of wind turbines.
D'Arcinoff isn't the first wind-turbine maker to target Indiana. Earlier this month, Germany-based VAT-Getriebetechnik, a manufacturer of wind turbines and renewable energy-powered lighting systems, announced that it would locate its U.S. headquarters in Muncie.
VAT-Getriebetechnik plans to create more than 120 jobs by 2011 and invest $3.3 million in its facility at the city's Park One Business Park. It plans to begin hiring engineers, service technicians, logistics managers and administrative staff later this year. VAT has 130 employees in Germany.
The Indiana Economic Development Corp. offered the company up to $1 million in performance-based tax credits and up to $100,000 in training grants.
VAT is the second company specializing in production of wind and renewable-energy components to locate operations in Delaware County. Last fall, Brevini announced plans to locate its North American wind-turbine gear-box manufacturing facilities there, creating 450 jobs.