Iberdrola cuts US wind energy jobs
UNITED STATES: Iberdrola Renewables, America's second-largest wind developer, is laying off 50 people in the United States.
The axed jobs were primarily in wind, confirmed Jan Johnson, a spokeswoman. Wind comprises most of Iberdrola Renewables’ US business.
Iberdrola Renewables, part of the Spanish utility Iberdrola, had employed 900 in the US. It operates more than 4.7GW of installed US wind, as well as some solar, biomass and gas-fired generation.
America’s wind sector is facing uncertainty because of the possible expiration of the production tax credit (PTC) on 31 December. The sector is also affected by low natural gas prices and sagging electricity demand.
Lawmakers in Washington may extend the PTC, worth 2.2 cents/kWh, either in February or after the November federal elections.
Wind developers especially are being hit hard by the lack of stable policy. In October, EDP Renewables cut 10% of its US workforce.
