A COVID-19 outbreak at a wind turbine blade facility operated by a unit of General Electric (GE 1.30%) is responsible for an additional 110 cases reported in the state of North Dakota, according to Reuters. The LM Wind Power plant in Grand Forks is a business of the GE Renewable Energy unit of General Electric.
After screening about half of the 900 employees, a total of 110 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed among plant workers and their close contacts, according to a briefing by North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum. The state issued a 14 day quarantine order for all employees. GE has said the plant will be closed for a minimum of two weeks as it conducts disinfection and cleaning, according to the briefing. Employees will be paid during this time.
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Assembling each turbine blade takes a crew of 100 workers approximately two days, according to the company. GE Renewable Energy has over 42,000 units installed worldwide and is one of the world's leading suppliers.
GE has also been using its technology to help fight the pandemic. Its GE Healthcare business unit has signed a contract with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to manufacture 50,000 ventilators, in partnership with Ford Motor Co. (F 0.69%), it was announced last week.
