Siemens Gamesa wind turbine manufacturer to cut jobs in Iowa, Kansas

121 workers to be let go at Fort Madison

The Gazette

Feb. 10, 2022 1:05 pm

An ad for Siemens featuring Iowa wind energy could be seen in Reagan National Airport in Arlington, VA in September 2015. (Lynda Waddington/The Gazette)

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy plans to eliminate positions in Iowa and Kansas because of a reduction in orders for commercial wind turbines.

The company, which manufactures wind turbines, announced Wednesday that 121 jobs will end in Fort Madison, Iowa, and 69 employees will lose jobs in Hutchinson, Kan,

That will leave 254 workers in Fort Madison and 117 in Hutchinson.

Company spokesman Andrew Luther said future furloughs at the plants remain possible, the Hutchinson News reported.

In a news release announcing the cuts, officials said the manufacturer aims to find opportunities for employees in other areas of the business, where possible, according to the Hutchinson News.

Shannon Sturgil, CEO of Onshore North America, said in a news release the job cuts primarily were caused by two factors.

One was a halt in production during deliberations by the International Trade Commission on a patent infringement suit against the company, she said.

The other issue is a delay in orders in anticipation of new climate change legislation from the U.S. Congress.

The Hutchinson plant produces nacelles, which house the generating components of the turbines. Fort Madison produces wind turbine blades.