Wind tower manufacturer chooses NM for new facility
Expansion will bring 250 jobs to Belen
Belen will get a big economic boost with the expansion of a windtower manufacturer into the area, one that will add roughly 250 jobs. Texas-based Arcosa Inc. announced Tuesday its subsidiary, Arcosa Wind Towers, will open a windtower production facility in Belen with production to begin as soon as next year.
The company’s expansion into New Mexico is aided by $4 million in Local Economic Development Act money from the state, which will be disbursed as the company meets economic development benchmarks.
“We look forward to expanding our manufacturing capacity to New Mexico, where market demand for new wind projects is robust,” Antonio Carrillo, president and CEO of Arcosa Inc., said in a statement. “Our new facility will strengthen our position in the windtower market and enable Arcosa to benefit from growing wind investment in the Southwest. We are pleased to create new jobs in the State of New Mexico, which has been a supportive partner and a strong proponent of windenergy development.”
The announcement of the new facility comes as the company has received $750 million in tower orders, many of which are for projects in the southwest. Deliveries of those orders are expected to begin in 2024 and go through 2028, the company said.
Arcosa, a publicly traded company, plans to invest $55 million to $60 million in the expansion, which includes the purchase and modification of an existing facility in the Rio Grande Industrial Park and the procurement of needed equipment.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has long identified sustainable energy as an industry ripe for further growth — an area which she believes can attract higher-paying jobs for New Mexicans.
In 2021, New Jerseybased WTEC Energy Corp., with state assistance, announced it would bring more than 300 jobs to New Mexico with its expansion into Chamberino. The company manufactures wire cable designed to power solar projects and wind turbines. WTEC also announced plans to use its Chamberino facility to eventually produce wind towers.
Additionally, the New Mexico Economic Development Department said Arcosa can qualify for Job Training Incentive Program funds. The city of Belen is also planning on assisting the expansion through industrial revenue bonds, or IRBs.
Once Arcosa expands into Belen, payroll is expected to hit $12.5 million annually. The company’s expansion, according to the state, will have an overall economic impact of $314 million over the next decade.
“The transition to clean energy brings with it more diversified, higher-paying and skilled jobs,” the governor said. “Arcosa is repurposing an old factory for new investments in our state and our communities — this is a win-win.”
Albuquerque Regional Economic Alliance helped with data and research assistance for Arcosa last September before the deal was struck for its expansion into Belen.
AREA CEO and President Danielle Casey said the organization is “pleased to be a partner in projects like this one ... . ”
Belen Mayor Robert Noblin said the “anticipated creation of 250 jobs is vital to our local workforce and economy.”