Plant proposed near Dayton could bring 600 jobs

A wind turbine blade plant proposed near Dayton could eventually employ up to 600.

Strategic Composites, which makes carbon nanotube products for the aerospace, marine and racing industries, plans to open a wind turbine blade plant in or near Dayton that could begin producing lightweight blades this fall, said Mark Kean, Strategic Composites' director of sales and acquisitions.

"It's a sure thing we're going to do it," he said. "It's just a question of where we're going to do it."

Kean said Strategic Composites plans on leasing two buildings for operations before a larger structure is built. He said the building should be 300,000 square feet.

"We basically need a shell, then we can put our stuff in it," he said.

Workers would cut carbon nanotube cloth, operate machinery, run a giant oven and paint the final product. Kean said about 300 people would initially be needed, but said the plant could eventually employ 600.

In a county where the unemployment rate topped 12 percent in April, an influx of jobs would be welcomed. Dayton's population in 2008 was 2,730, according to the Washington Office of Financial Management.

"It would be huge for us," said Lisa Ronnberg, Southeast Washington Economic Development Association managing director. "I think it would be fabulous. We have a pretty good pool to draw on in a 70-mile radius considering Walla Walla and the Tri-Cities."

Kean said many of the workers would be hired locally and trained to manufacture the carbon nanotube blades, which he hopes will revolutionize the wind energy industry. Most wind turbine blades are made of fiberglass.

"It's a third lighter (than fiberglass) and stronger than steel," Kean said of the carbon nanotube product.

According to Kean, heavier fiberglass blades wear out wind turbine bearings in about two years. He said Strategic Composites' blades are guaranteed for 10 years.

Although Columbia County is home to 225 wind turbines -- and nearly 800 more are planned for Columbia and Garfield counties -- Kean said his company's blades likely won't be used in the area. Instead, he said they will be shipped to Texas, California, Wyoming and other windy states.

Kean said the Dayton area was chosen primarily because of its location and shipping options.

"It's centrally located in a four-state area," he said, adding that shipping choices include rail and highway.

Columbia County Planning and Building Department Director Richard Hendricksen said Strategic Composites hasn't applied for any county permits. Kean expects to apply for permits once his company locates a site for its plant. Kean said stimulus dollars and other grants should help fund the construction of a large facility that would house the plant.

Tim Dyke of the Port of Columbia said he hasn't spoken with anyone from Strategic Composites, but said the Port of Columbia could help the company construct a building.

"If a company did come to town and needed a building to be built or leased, that's what the Port of Columbia is there for," he said.

w Drew Foster: 585-7207; dfoster@tricityherald.com