Dr. Jacopo Tozzi, CEO Brevini Wind, stated "The market response to Brevini Wind's participation in last week's American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) annual conference in Chicago exceeded expectations. We have reached the point with new Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) customer contracts and ongoing conversations where we must move up our scheduled Start of Production (SOP) to serve the needs of our customers." The original SOP for first quarter 2011 is being moved up to late third quarter 2010, accelerating the project schedule by 6 months.

 

Renato Brevini, President & CEO Brevini Holdings, stated "The response of the U.S. marketplace to our Main Drive technology and the continued close support of the state of Indiana through Governor Mitch Daniels and his vision for the wind energy manufacturing business leads us to believe we are in the right place at the right time and must act decisively."

 

"Brevini's decision to accelerate the production of its turbine technology here in Muncie means new jobs for Hoosiers who are ready to get down to business," said Daniels.

 

To enable this accelerated schedule, Brevini Wind USA announced the selection of the design build firm GDI Construction with a target ground breaking and start of construction for this July, 2009. The date for the ground breaking in Muncie will be coordinated with local officials and the office of Governor Mitch Daniels. The manufacturing capacity of the Muncie facility will allow for the production of 1,000 Main Drive gear boxes per year, ranging in size from 1.5 MW to 3.65 MW. Construction is to be complete in late March 2010. A phase two expansion is tentatively planned to follow doubling the manufacturing capacity to 2,000 Main Drive gear boxes per year by 2015.

 

A supply chain conference to assist potential local, state & regional suppliers in meeting the needs of Brevini Wind will be held jointly with the ground breaking this July and coordinated with local and state officials from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, Indiana Office of Energy Development, Work One, Ball State University & Ivy Tech. "The Brevini Company values the close working relationship and tremendous support it has received from each of these organizations with the preparation of the perspective Workforce and Supplier base," said Greg Winkler, Director of Project Development.

 

In addition to the Brevini Wind manufacturing operation, the relocation of Brevini USA's North American headquarters is currently underway and is also scheduled to be complete this July. Sal Spada, President Brevini USA, praised the support and assistance of local and state officials and businesses. "We have received an outpouring of help from every side which is enabling a very smooth transition to our new home in Muncie. This is an ideal environment in which to do business and we believe it is giving us a competitive advantage!"

 

"Today's announcement is great news for Muncie-Delaware County. The acceleration of this project is bringing jobs and supplier opportunities to our community even faster than expected," said Terry Murphy, Vice President, Economic Development for the Muncie-Delaware County Economic Development Alliance.