After the uncertain fate of the production tax credit (PTC) led Siemens to lay off approximately 37% of its U.S. wind energy workforce last year, the company is now in the process of restaffing its nacelle operations in Hutchinson, and its blade manufacturing plant in Ft Madison Iowa. Siemens spokesperson Monika Wood confirmed the increase in staffing.

Wood says extension of the production the tax credit did not drive, Siemens decision to hire more workers. The increase in restaffing is in order to produce wind turbine components for projects located outside the U.S.

Siemens laid off about 60% of its workforce at the Hutchinson facility when the future of the PTC was in doubt. Wood says that Siemens has hired 18 employees back in February and will hire another 48 in March. This represents about 1/3rd of the workforce laid off last year.

Woods says that some of the company’s future decisions on its wind energy workforce will be based on the results of further guidance from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department on the definition of what constitutes “begin construction” in order for projects to qualify for the PTC.