Iowa City to build Wind Energy Supply Chain Campus

Filed in archive News on November 29, 2008

Iowa City wants to create a "wind energy supply chain" campus to connect suppliers with assembly plants like Acciona, West Branch Times reported. The Iowa City Area Development Group announced recently that it has begun the process of acquiring, annexing and zoning the first 173 acres of land to start the campus.

ICAD President Joe Raso said the site already has rail service and will be developed with other common utilities to make it "shovel ready" for any manufacturer, but the city wants to appeal specifically to the wind energy industry.

Acciona's North America Vice President of Manufacturing Adrian LaTrace said Friday that the campus is of great interest to the West Branch plant.

"I think the suppliers that are most interesting to us are the ones who make the components for the nacelle - the turbine section of the machine," he said.

The West Branch plant currently has some of its parts shipped in from as far as Europe, like the large forged and cast components that make up the frame, shafts and other interconnecting parts.