Clean Line Energy Partners LLC announced an agreement June 8 between its subsidiary Plains and Eastern Clean Line LLC and Sediver to build a new Sediver manufacturing facility and testing laboratory in West Memphis.
In the agreement, Clean Line designates Sediver, a unit of Seves Group, as its preferred supplier for glass insulators for the Plains & Eastern Clean Line project, which is a 700-mile direct current transmission line that will deliver low-cost, clean energy from Oklahoma to Arkansas, Tennessee and other Southern states.
“We are thrilled that, at our request, Sediver is opening a manufacturing plant in Arkansas and will be supplying the insulators for our Plains & Eastern Clean Line,” said Clean Line President Michael Skelly. “This agreement furthers our commitment to purchase as many of the needed materials and services as possible from local companies in the Plains & Eastern Clean Line project area. This project will propel Arkansas forward by bringing new manufacturing and construction jobs and a low-cost renewable energy to the Natural State for years to come.”
Clean Line’s commitment means it will purchase more than $160 million in products for the project made in Arkansas. Construction is expected to begin as early as 2016.
France-based Sediver is a world leader in overhead transmission and distribution line insulator technology and has served utility customers worldwide for more than 70 years. The company’s new West Memphis Made in the USA glass insulator manufacturing plant will be well-positioned to serve utilities across the United States.
Sediver’s decision to return operations to the United States and open a manufacturing plant in Arkansas was bolstered by the opportunities brought forth by the Plains & Eastern Clean Line project, a news release said. Sediver has maintained significant market share in the United States with sustained double-digit growth over the last five years. The company selected West Memphis for its logistical advantage and Arkansas’ qualified workforce.
“We are excited to be back in the United States and to be able to contribute to cutting edge renewable energy infrastructure projects like the Plains & Eastern Clean Line,” said Rene Tabouret, Sediver CEO. “We selected West Memphis for our new assembly plant and testing laboratory to serve the Plains & Eastern Clean Line, along with other American utilities, and the global transmission and distribution industry. The new facility will create over 70 jobs for Arkansans when we begin operations in late 2016.”
The Plains & Eastern Clean Line brings about a half-billion dollar investment in Arkansas that will approximately double the amount of low-cost clean energy in the state. The delivery converter station in central Arkansas would be able to provide enough low-cost energy to more than 160,000 Arkansas homes each year.
The project creates hundreds of construction and manufacturing jobs in Arkansas, and potentially will contribute $5 million per year in tax revenue, the release said.
“We couldn’t be more pleased that Sediver has chosen West Memphis as a base for this important work in the U.S. We appreciate the high-wage jobs this project will bring to our city,” said West Memphis Mayor Willilam Johnson.
Read the full news release here.
Main photo: Ward Wimbish (left), director of economic development for the city of West Memphis and Rene Tabouret (right), president of Sediver, sign a sales agreement at West Memphis City Hall on June 8.
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