Clean Line Energy Announces Iowa Manufacturing Agreement

Clean Line and Sabre Industries will create opportunities for manufacturing jobs and help Iowa maintain its leadership in the wind energy industry.

Sioux City, IA (February 17, 2014) – Clean Line Energy (Clean Line) announced an agreement today designating Iowa-based manufacturer, Sabre Tubular Structures, a Division of Sabre Industries (Sabre) as a preferred supplier of transmission structures for the Rock Island Clean Line transmission project. Iowa Economic Development Authority Director Debi Durham; Sioux City Mayor Pro Tem Keith Radig; Clean Line President Michael Skelly; and Sabre Industries President and Chief Executive Officer Peter J. Sandore spoke at the news conference held at Sabre’s Southbridge plant in Sioux City.

The transmission structures will be produced in Sabre's Iowa facilities. Sabre will establish a supplier base within the project area (primarily Iowa and Illinois) to supply as much raw material as possible from local companies.

“Iowa is poised to take its place to help power the nation and move it towards the grid of the future,” said Debi Durham, Director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority. “Iowa depends on exports of our commodities to keep our economy strong. Iowans will make the transmission structures at the Sabre facilities that will carry Iowa wind to market.”

The Rock Island Clean Line transmission project is an approximately 500-mile overhead, direct current transmission line that will deliver up to 3,500 megawatts of wind power from northwest Iowa and the surrounding region to communities in Illinois and other states to the east. The project will make possible billions of dollars of investments in new wind energy projects that could not otherwise be built due to the limitations of the existing electric transmission grid. Clean Line is working to maximize sourcing of products and services from manufacturers and contractors in the state.

Sabre’s Iowa facilities employ approximately 450 people in a variety of positions including fabricating, welding, shipping, and administration. The Rock Island Clean Line and Sabre Industries will create opportunities for manufacturing jobs and help Iowa maintain its leadership in the wind energy industry.

“I am pleased to see Sabre Industries and Clean Line working together to bring economic development opportunities to Sioux City and the surrounding region,” said Keith Radig, City Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem of Sioux City. “We appreciate both companies for their commitment to our community.”

“Sabre Industries recognizes the tremendous benefits that the Rock Island Clean Line will bring to northwest Iowa and is proud to collaborate with them to continue Iowa’s tradition of providing quality manufacturing,” said Peter J. Sandore, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sabre Industries, Inc. “By utilizing local suppliers, we will further their commitment to providing economic growth to our state.”

In addition to supporting Iowa’s manufacturing base, the Rock Island Clean Line will create thousands of construction jobs in Iowa. The project will spur demand for roughly 2,000 new wind turbines and will also create jobs for Iowa’s wind energy companies. According to the Iowa Wind Energy Association, the wind energy industry in Iowa currently employs 6,000 to 7,000 people. Iowa ranks third in the nation in employment related to the wind energy industry.

Clean Line President Michael Skelly said, “Clean Line Energy is pleased to work with Sabre Industries on the Rock Island Clean Line transmission project. The agreement with Sabre will help make Iowa a leader in transmission infrastructure manufacturing, and will support a cleaner energy future. Clean Line is also committed to sourcing as many of the needed materials as possible from local companies in the Rock Island Clean Line project area. Our alliance with Sabre is one of many benefits Iowans will realize as a result of the Rock Island Clean Line.”

Clean Line estimates that property taxes on the Rock Island Clean Line transmission line will generate millions of dollars annually in Iowa and will be distributed to counties where the line and converter station are located. Clean Line is committed to compensating landowners fairly and landowners will have the option to elect either one-time or annual payments for each transmission structure on their property, with annual payments escalating 2% per year as long as the structures are on the property.

About Clean Line Energy Partners

Clean Line’s mission is to connect abundant, renewable energy resources to areas that have a high demand for clean, reliable energy. Clean Line is developing a series of high-voltage transmission projects to move renewable energy to market. For more information please visit www.CleanLineEnergy.com.

About Sabre

In business since 1977, Sabre is a leading producer of highly engineered products used for electric transmission and distribution and wireless telecommunications, offering a complete customer solution with a full range of engineered towers, poles, structures, and related services. The Company’s vast array of product offerings and extensive manufacturing capabilities has allowed Sabre to develop leading positions with a high-quality, diversified group of customers including the nation’s largest utilities and wireless communications firms. For further information on Sabre Industries, Inc., and its various divisions, please visit our web site at: www.sabreindustries.com

Media Contact

Louisa Kinoshi
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lkinoshi@cleanlineeenergy.com