Wind tower maker Katana Summit says it will close its plants in Nebraska and Washington state and lay off nearly 300 people.
The company said Wednesday its plants in Columbus, Nebraska and Ephrata, Washington will close around November 1st unless a buyer can be found for the plants. The Nebraska plant employs 214 and 79 people work at the Washington plant.
Katana Summit plans to complete its existing orders for towers that can be up to 330-feet-tall before closing the plants. CEO Kevin Strudthoff says uncertainty about the future of tax credits for wind power is forcing the closures.
He says orders for the towers Katana Summit makes have nearly stopped for 2013 because wind power developers want to know if the tax credits that expire at the end of this year will be renewed.
