T. Boone Pickens Plan, Other Wind Energy Development May Bring Jobs To Chattanooga

As Chattanooga celebrates the future arrival of Volkswagen, another manufacturer looks to add to our workforce, right now.  The ripple effect of a development in Texas may be felt here in Chattanooga.

Thursday, utility officials in the Lone Star state approved a $5,000,000,000 wind-generated electricity program.

Oil tycoon, T. Boone Pickens also plans to build the world's largest wind farm along the Texas Panhandle, featuring 2,700 turbines.  Pickens wants wind to replace natural gas in power production and then use natural gas to fuel vehicles, reducing our dependence on foreign oil.  Pickens says "we've got to go to renewables, there's no question about it."

So, where does Chattanooga fit in?  As the wind industry expands, a local company that manufactures metal towers for wind turbines benefits.  Aerisyn looks to add nearly 20 positions as it works to keep up with demand.  Manpower handles the initial round of job recruitment.  Mark Campbell, Owner of Manpower, says "we're advertising in the newspaper, we're advertising on the Internet, its word of mouth, we're trying to find qualified candidates."  Go to manpowerjobs.com for application info.

Wind energy accounts for about 1% of the nation's electricity right now, but an Energy Department report concludes wind turbines could generate a fifth of this country's power in the next two decades... providing Aerisyn more room to grow.