The groundbreaking for a multi-million dollar wind turbine manufacturing facility in Butte planned for this fall is now set for spring 2009.

Evan Barrett of the Governor's Office of Economic Development said the project is definitely moving forward, however an overwhelming demand for turbines elsewhere has delayed the project temporarily.

"Right now they are opening a brand new plant in Germany. Of course they are not a huge company, as a result of that, their focus is on that,getting that done successfully and being able to take care of three or four things going on. They've got a $2 billon backlog of demand and so because of that, they have to get components from all over the world so as a company they are scrambling," Barrett said.

The $25 million investment for a the proposed wind turbine production plant in Butte would provide around 200 jobs during the first phase of the project. That number is expected to double in the second phase.

Barrett said, despite the high demand for turbines, a regional market for the Butte plant needs to be developed.

"So we're contacting all the wind energy companies and saying, ‘Have you thought about buying turbines for the Butte plant?' because the longer there's a cue of purchasers, the longer the more viable a plant is. As I say, they have a $2 billion backlog of turbine demand, so we have to develop the demand within 1,000 miles surrounding Butte," he said.

Meanwhile, the company has until early September to complete a feasibility study.