Sen. Boozman visits LM Wind Power Little Rock plant during American Wind Week

U.S. Sen. John Boozman (R-AR), a member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, recently visited the LM Wind Power Little Rock plant in Little Rock, Ark., to observe the production of turbine blades used to drive wind farms in the region.

Built in 2008, the plant is the LM Wind Power’s second manufacturing facility in North America. The plant employs more than 500 people and produces blades for wind turbines for use in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. LM Wind Power is a GE Renewable Energy business with approximately 14,000 employees worldwide. LM Wind Power builds 20 percent of all turbines in use today.

“Wind power is a crucial component of an all-of-the-above energy strategy and supports Arkansas jobs,” Boozman said. “Our national energy strategy must include developing and expanding renewable sources of energy in order to address our current and future needs. We continue to make advancements in these areas and I support smart, responsible approaches that broaden our capability to harness these resources to create new forms of sustainable energy.”

Boozman met with LM Wind Power employees, toured the manufacturing floor and received a briefing on the plant’s operations, including a preview of the next generation of turbines.

“We greatly appreciate Senator Boozman and his staff taking the time to tour our Little Rock facility, meet with our employees and get to see up close the work we do to power a clean, 21st-century economy,” LM Wind Plant Director Jackie Highsmith said.

During the third annual American Wind Week, which was observed Aug. 11-17, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) and supporters of wind energy highlight the benefits of wind power at events across the country and online.

“For this year’s American Wind Week, there’s a record amount of U.S. wind energy under construction and the 114,000 Americans in our industry are working hard to make the energy you use cheaper and cleaner,” AWEA CEO Tom Kiernan said. “As an all-American energy source, wind is a leading contributor to domestic energy production, economic opportunity, and the fight to minimize climate change.”