PENSACOLA, Fla. -- On Tuesday, the Trump administration implemented extensive tariff measures that are significantly affecting the wind turbine sector.
In 2020, BlueWind Technology launched operations in Pensacola. Since then, the firm has produced over 3,000 cutting-edge covers designed specifically for wind turbines.
The firm reports a swift increase in material costs. Even though the company has reservations, they remain quite positive regarding how the tariffs will affect the U.S. economy.
“President Trump ran his campaign based on these tariffs,” stated Henry Kelly, founder of BlueWind Technology. “I told the other shareholders that we must comprehend what might happen now.”
Kelly expresses that he isn’t astonished by the record-breaking tariffs imposed on various international entities. His firm manufactures an essential component for wind turbines, utilizing raw materials sourced from 12 different countries globally.
WEAR News was informed that their imported raw materials experienced a sudden 10% price hike since Tuesday.
Kelly mentioned that they acquire resin and chemicals from sources in Thailand, Denmark, India, Brazil, and Colombia.
Trump pledged to make American manufacturing a key focus in his second term. Kelly says the fear is how long it will take before the plan bears fruit, saying he would prefer to buy American materials but not enough companies produce the products.
"Concerning the tariffs, my worry lies in how swiftly other American nations can increase their output instead of dealing with import duties," stated Kelly.
Over the past five years, BlueWind Technology has generated sufficient output to energize 3,000,000 households, concurrently expanding their workforce by an additional 200 members, marking a remarkable expansion of about 700%.
Kelly states that the United States urgently requires increased energy production from various sources including wind, coal, hydrogen, and others. However, she notes that the country cannot cease trading with its international partners until the necessary infrastructure is established.
"Five years back, we began defying conventional wisdom by establishing a manufacturing business in the U.S.,” explained Kelly. “Currently, we’re receiving inquiries from firms based in Israel, Eastern Europe, and Brazil who wish to collaborate with us for production here as a means of evading tariffs.”
“For current manufacturers, this segment of the narrative brings positive prospects,” he stated. “As mentioned earlier, the difficulty lies in sourcing our raw materials; however, I am optimistic that other businesses and financiers will introduce this technology to the U.S., making it available for purchase here.”
WEAR And if your statement indeed progresses as hoped, that would be the expectation.
Kelly : "That's the hope."
WEAR However, it might take a couple of years?
Kelly : "Right."
As Kelly stated, this necessitates sophisticated manufacturing and cutting-edge engineering processes. Such tasks require considerable time investment—not just for production but also for building up the workforce, acquiring necessary skills, and conducting proper training. That’s precisely why it will be a lengthy process since these items cannot be produced effortlessly.
Despite the continuous tariffs and instability in the worldwide economy, Kelly operates as a certified customs broker, advising numerous international firms on import procedures. According to him, recent conversations held internationally suggest these tariffs will eventually benefit the U.S.
Now, my phone is constantly ringing because people are saying, ‘I’m interested in starting a manufacturing business in the U.S. Can you guide me through the process?’" Kelly mentioned. "There’s been an instant response and significantly increased inquiries about initiating manufacturing operations within the country.
WEAR As someone well-versed in this area, wouldn’t you say that’s moving in the correct direction?
Kelly Definitely, this is moving in the right direction. I concur with the evaluation. There will be some temporary discomfort. However, I think the intention behind it is sound.
According to a recent study conducted by the Haas Center, the wind energy sector in Florida has resulted in approximately 2,500 job opportunities and contributes around one billion dollars to the state’s economy.