Local Company Creates 200 Green Jobs in U.S. & Canada

The Estes Family is not letting any dust settle. Just this year they opened their new LEED Platinum implement dealership to replace the John Deere facility (BTI-Greensburg) that was destroyed in the tornado. Seeing an amazing opportunity to diversify, they have expanded into the wind turbine business - locally, nationally, and internationally - with BTI Wind Energy, LLC. They have partnered with Endurance Wind Power (based in Canada) to offer "small wind" technology, sales and service. On the grounds of their Greensburg dealership they erected the Wind Building, a training facility where wind technicians and specialists come from throughout the country to receive cutting-edge education in the business. The building can accommodate up to 40 students at a time. The Wind Building also houses the offices of five people connected to the business: 3 BTI staff, a technician with Suzlon (manufacturer of the turbines used in the Greensburg Wind Farm), and a John Deere Wind Energy specialist.

According to BTI General Manager Mike Estes, 44 states and 6 Canadian provinces has thus far been set up with wind turbine distributorships through existing professional equipment dealers. This "Harvest the Wind" network has already created over 200 jobs, with more to come. Most of these new green collar workers will receive their training in Greensburg; the remainder will go to Endurance for their education.

Additionally, BTI already had a joint venture with Garden City Community College to train students to work on John Deere equipment. This relationship has been expanded to include training in the wind energy field. (Garden City is down the highway about 100 miles west of Greensburg.)

The Endurance turbines are available in 5, 35 and 50 kilowatt sizes.Three of the large turbines have already been sold in Greensburg: to the school, the Kiowa County Memorial Hospital, and to a local farmer. Mike is proud of the quality provided by the Endurance brand, backed up by the service and stability of the John Deere network.

This is yet another example of how the local Green Initiative is having a ripple effect throughout the world. Kudos to the Estes Family and their commitment to renewable energy. BTI Wind Energy can be reached at 620-723-3570.

Comments

[shanti]

And from what mike and Kelly tell me, they are going to install their 50 kW turbine at the BTI-Greensburg John Deere Dealership also! A wonderful story for sure.