West Wind Energy is "Crazy like the wind."

OTIS — What began as a hobby for Scott Brantley has turned into a full-time job. About two years ago, Brantley launched West Wind Energy, a small-scale wind turbine remanufacturing business.

And about two months ago, the company relocated from Great Bend to a larger facility at 405 N. Main in Otis, where it will have plenty of room to grow. “Rush County has opened their arms to us, so it’s been fantastic,” Brantley said.

The plant manufactures hobbyist size wind turbines, ranging from 1 kilowatt to 200 kilowatt generators. The machines are used to offset energy bills for homes, businesses and even communities, Brantley said, noting the company is working to establish the state's first community wind project in Jetmore.

So far, the primary focus of the company has been refurbishing wind turbines that have been in use for more than a decade. When the machines are decommissioned in favor of larger generators, the company takes them in, fixes them and ships them off for use in another project. Currently, there is a large market nationwide for 200-kilowatt generators — a model no other company is producing, Brantley said. The blades, in particular, for that size of turbine are a much-needed commodity, especially in California, he said. As a result, the company soon will expand to include blade manufacturing. The new facility includes space to house the additional business, and Brantley hopes to add up to 20 additional employees to the current workforce of nine.

Needless to say, the additional job opportunities are much appreciated in the small town of Otis, and all of Rush County, said Bradley Penka, the county economic director.

"It's been a benefi t to the community. He's already brought new jobs into town, and he’s planning on expanding," Penka said. “Just having the wind energy and the environmentally friendly kind of business is even more beneficial."

The business also fi lled a building that had been unoccupied for about two years, following the move of Ochs Inc., a John Deere dealership.