By: Megan Palera
mpalera@klkntv.com
Wind tower maker Katana Summit says orders have nearly stopped this year, forcing the company to shut down unless a buyer can be found for its plants. The company operates in Nebraska and Washington State.
The news comes as a big surprise to Columbus residents like Eric Frese. "It seemed like there was always stuff there and they got a lot of towers out there and there's always towers going through town," he said. "I thought they were doing ok."
Katana Summit had a record tower production in 2011. But CEO Kevin Strudthoff says uncertainty about the future of tax credits for wind power is forcing the closures. The tax credits will expire at the end of the year unless the federal government decides to renew them. That's forced the wind industry to halt the majority of development for 2013.
Strudthoff says he is actively seeking buyers so that his employees can still bring home a paycheck. Katana employs nearly 300 people, more than 200 alone in Columbus.
"I'm sure there's gonna be a lot of people needing jobs. There's jobs but not maybe as many as they're gonna be losing," Frese said.
