Cites dwindling sales
Flagstaff wind turbine company lays off 10 percent of its staff
FLAGSTAFF – A Flagstaff company that makes small wind turbines for homes, commercial buildings and even sailboats has laid off more than 10 percent of its staff because of the slowing economy.
Southwest Windpower laid off 14 workers at its Flagstaff manufacturing plant on Friday. Chief executive Frank Greco says lower-than-expected revenues over the last few months forced the company to make the move.
Greco says he had hoped an increase in the federal tax credit for renewable energy from $2,600 to $4,000 would boost sales of home-use wind turbines, but that hasn’t happened.
With the credit, the cost of the company’s Skystream home unit is roughly $10,000.
The first quarter is the company’s slowest sales period, and Greco says the workers may be rehired if sales increase.