Wind turbine firm (Clipper Windpower) axes staff (11%) as recession hits renewables sector

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/feb/05/wind-turbine-job-cuts

Wind turbine firm axes staff as recession hits renewables sector

California company cuts 11% of workforce but giant turbine for the North Sea is unaffected

Terry Macalister
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 5 February 2009 14.38 GMT

One of the world's leading turbine manufacturers is to make 11% of its workforce redundant as windfarm developers put on the brakes in the face of a global economic slowdown.

Clipper Windpower said in a trading update that 90 staff would be laid off and production levels cut by up to a fifth but insisted that work on a giant turbine for the North Sea, which is supported by the Crown Estate, would be unaffected.

"Clipper is responding aggressively to the current difficult conditions which impact Clipper, its customers and the entire wind industry," said Doug Pertz, the company's chief executive. "Working closely with customers, we are proactively managing the impacts of this situation and rescaling the business to align with demand."

The renewable energy and clean tech sector has seen its share price hammered over the last six months and green energy developers are finding it difficult to raise money from cash-strapped banks.

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