Kansas City Business Journal
UpWind Solutions Inc., an Oregon company that works with wind energy firms, will open a $2.1 million parts and tooling center in Lenexa, according to the Kansas City Area Development Council.
UpWind will lease more than 18,700 square feet at 15745 W. 100th Terrace, creating seven new jobs during the next three years. The distribution facility will house spare parts for various wind turbine technologies, as well as an engineering center for components such as gearboxes, generators, blades and transformers.
“After extensive research, it became clear that Kansas City was the best location for our main distribution center due to the ability to quickly reach so many wind assets throughout the United States, especially the Central and Western regions,” Peter Wells, UpWind chief operating officer, said in a release.
Blake Schreck, president of the Lenexa Economic Development Council, said in the release that the city is proud to have UpWind, which offers “a critical service to an increasingly important energy sector.”
KCADC CEO Bob Marcusse attributed the move to two years of efforts to promote the region’s advantages for wind energy companies.
“UpWind’s investment in a new facility and jobs in the KC region validates our efforts and strengthens this new growing industry for our community,” he said in the release.
UpWind, based in Medford, Ore., was founded in 2007 by Bo Thisted and several veterans of the wind industry.