(Radio Iowa) – A wind turbine plant in West Branch re-opened Tuesday as the national debate on renewable energy continues. Nordex U-S-A C-E-O Manav Sharma tells K-C-R-G T-V he has nothing but compliments for the state of Iowa. “Of all the places, we have never felt more welcome than we have here in Iowa,” Sharma said. Wind power makes up about 60 percent of the state’s total electricity production, the highest rate in the country. Governor Kim Reynolds attended the event and says the plan is to keep investing in renewable energy.

“We’re number one because we’ve been intentional, and we’ve been intentional to build a workforce, put in place the infrastructure and the policy climate to empower companies like Nordex to thrive,” Reynolds says. While Iowa has embraced wind energy, Nordex’s reopening in the state comes alongside a national debate over renewable energy. The Trump Administration’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ is removing tax credits for wind manufacturers. But, Senators also removed a proposed new tax on wind projects, which Nordex said would’ve prematurely killed the business. Sharma admits that uncertainty is the enemy of business.

Manav Sharma, CEO Nordex (photo from windpowermonthly.com)

“Is there an uncertainty in the business today, yes. But does that dissuade us from taking the business decisions we needed to take? No. And the reason is the economic behind wind still work,” Sharma says. While Sharma wouldn’t go into specifics, he said the West Branch plant already has enough contracts to keep it open for several years.

The facility will also be used as Nordex’s North America training site.