Wind-turbine co. stays put after state offers $3M

Wind-turbine company FloDesign has decided to stay in Massachusetts, thanks to $3 million in state aid.

The Wilbraham company, which makes cutting-edge wind turbines that look like small jet engines on short poles, has agreed to establish its headquarters and product development center at the old Waltham Watch Factory, while keeping its aerodynamic research center in Wilbraham.

It plans to create up to 150 new jobs and keep them in Massachusetts in exchange for the state assistance.

Part of the aid package also calls for the state to purchase some of FloDesign's products for possible use on state properties, perhaps even at Logan International Airport.

Because FloDesign's products are much smaller than normal wind turbines, they can be placed in more locations without disrupting air space, such as at airports, officials said yesterday.

Gov. Deval Patrick, who has been pushing clean energy as a future growth sector for Massachusetts, praised the deal, which is tapping some federal stimulus funds. "We want to see these companies succeed and grow here," Patrick said in a statement.

A number of states reportedly tried to lure FloDesign away from Massachusetts.

FloDesign's technology has become a darling of the clean-energy sector over the past year, winning multimillion-dollar grants and investments from the federal government and venture-capital firms