The closed TPI wind blade manufacturing plant just northeast of Newton is expected to reopen, but City leaders just don’t know when. 

After Maytag closed its Newton facilities in 2007, TPI built the Newton plant and employed about 700 workers from 2008 until manufacturing operations were stopped in 2021. In November 2022, TPI announced a new 10-year agreement to make new wind blades at the Newton Plant for General Electric. But Newton Mayor Evelyn George says that order for new blades has yet to be placed, so the plant remains closed. 

“We keep in contact with TPI. They have an agreement signed with GE, but GE has not yet ordered new wind blades. When they do, they will start to resume that workforce, and we are looking forward to that.” 

George says renewable energy is the future. Hear more from Newton Mayor Evelyn George on today’s Let’s Talk Newton, or listen online at KNIA/KRLS.com under “Podcasts.”