TECO-Westinghouse Motor Co., a Round Rock-based manufacturer of electric motors, announced that it will be creating up to 150 jobs in the Central Texas area. The manufacturer has announced a partnership with California-based Composite Technology Corp., a wind turbine company, to produce next generation technology for wind turbines at TECO-Westinghouse’s facility in Round Rock. Currently TECO-Westinghouse employs 300 people. The strategic alliance created between the two companies is expected to produce 400 units a year beginning in 2008 and is a $4-6 million investment.

“We are thrilled that the Chamber efforts through our Clean Energy Initiative were able to contribute to this important alliance,” said Lara Valentine, Director of Economic Development for the Greater Austin Chamber. “This announcement is a major boost to the state’s and region’s clean energy sector.”

This is the first manufacturing of turbines in Texas and only the second U.S. manufacturer to produce them in the U.S. Texas is already leading the nation in wind power and generates almost one-fourth of all wind power in the country.

Clean Energy is one of many industries the Greater Austin Chamber has been targeting as part of our Opportunity Austin initiative to create 72,000 new jobs by 2008.