Governor Quinn Announces $5 Million to Support Clean Energy and Create Green Jobs

ROCKFORD – March 31, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn today announced $5 million for Ingersoll Machine Tools, Inc. to develop wind energy turbine components and create and retain more than 150 green jobs at its facility in Rockford. The funding is through the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

“We must invest in green projects that create jobs, improve the environment and further our long-term energy goals,” said Governor Quinn. “This important funding will create and retain more than 150 green jobs in the Rockford area and marks another step forward as we continue the fight to strengthen our economy and move Illinois forward.”

Ingersoll will use the grant to purchase and retrofit equipment that will give the company the ability to produce wind turbine parts. The grant will allow Ingersoll to transfer its proprietary technology and experience supplying composite manufacturing systems for the aviation industry to the wind industry. The project will help create 87 jobs and retain 69 jobs at Ingersoll.

The grant was awarded through the Green Industry Business Development Program, a component of the state’s Energy Plan, administered by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and funded by ARRA. Over $100 million in federal recovery funding is available to implement the plan, which is Illinois' most comprehensive effort to date to achieve significant gains in energy efficiency and renewable energy.

"President Barack Obama and the US Congress asked the Department of Energy to do something about global warming, to create green careers and to build a new economy for America. With the help of the Governor and the state of Illinois, this project accomplishes all three," said Brian Quirke, US Department of Energy Director of Communications in the Midwest.

Illinois currently ranks third in the nation for the installation of new wind energy generation – behind only Texas and Colorado – and wind energy accounts for approximately 3 percent of generation in Illinois. In Illinois, wind generation has attracted over $1.3 billion in investment in the state and created over 3,500 jobs.

Governor Quinn made the announcement at Ingersoll’s headquarters in Rockford, and was joined by Tino Oldani, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ingersoll Machine Tools; Hon. Larry Morrissey, Mayor, City of Rockford; Rep. Chuck Jefferson (D-Rockford); and Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Rockford).