WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Sam Brownback today announced that the city of Hutchinson is to be awarded $1.78 million in stimulus funding. The money, from the Economic Development Administration, will be used to build a rail spur into the Salt City Business Park.

"This grant award is critical in assisting the construction of infrastructure needed to move the necessary components into Hutchinson's plant for final assembly of nacelles and hubs for wind turbines," said Brownback. "The rail spur will also be crucial to the export of the finished product to wind farms across the country."

The spur will serve the transportation needs of the new Siemens Wind Power nacelle manufacturing plant and repair center. The facility groundbreaking will take place Thursday at the Kansas State Fair.

Brownback continued, "As our nation continues to develop clean, renewable forms of energy, innovative projects like this one will allow Kansas to lead in not only the production of renewable energy equipment, but also to be a major nationwide supplier of wind power."

Brownback is the Ranking Member of the Water and Power Subcommittee of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.