The world’s largest developer, owner and operator of wind farms will break ground today for a new facility in Iowa. Acciona is a huge conglomerate based in Spain. Acciona Energy owns 164 wind farms in nine countries. It will open a wind turbine assembly plant in West Branch, Iowa — the company’s first turbine assembly operation in North America.

Acciona is making a 23-million dollar investment in the new plant. It already has two wind turbine assembly plants in Spain and a third in China. According to Governor Chet Culver’s staff, more than 100 people will be employed at the plant. The facility should produce 250 wind turbines in 2008. A groundbreaking for the facility will be held this morning at 10 o’clock in West Branch.

Audio: Radio Iowa’s O. Kay Henderson reports. :44 MP3