A large order for wind turbines from North Dakota could be good economic news for Hutchinson.

The Siemens Wind plant received an order for 64 of its 3.0-megawatt direct-drive turbines for a wind farm in North Dakota, which will mean about 30 new jobs at the Hutchinson plant.

The Hutchinson News reports it’s the first large order for the direct-drive turbines.

The blades for the Bison Wind Energy Center project will be manufactured at Siemens’ plant in Fort Madison, Iowa. Workers at the Hutchinson plant generally make the company’s 2.3 megawatt nacellas, but began making a few of the 3.0 direct-drive turbines last year.

A nacelle holds the wind turbine’s generating components, such as the generator, gearbox, drive train, and brake assembly.