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GREENSBORO – Hundreds of manufacturers, many of them from North Carolina, talked wind energy at a workshop in Greensboro.

They heard from industry experts on how the burgeoning market for wind turbines and their components can help grow their business.

Wind turbines are fixtures on the landscapes of many states. The workshop looked to grow the companies that help keep them humming.

"Since this is supply chain focused, [we're focused on] what's necessary to become successful in an endeavor to pursue work within the wind industry," said Matt Garran, supply chain manager for the American Wind Energy Association, the workshop sponsor.

Turbines can contain as many as 8,000 components, which can translate into orders for new industry entries like Hickory-based American Roller Bearing Co.

"They require very large bearings, and that's what we make and we're hoping to link up with some OEMs and be a bearing supplier," said the company's Bob Salter.

ABB has plants in Pinetops, N.C., and Greensboro. The company's components can be found in turbines around the U.S.

"We've done projects all over the U.S.,” said Jon Rennie, ABB vice president and general manager. “It was quite a good year, last year being a record year for wind projects. We sold from California to the east coast."

The industry employs more than 80,000 people in the U.S., a number that is expected to grow.

"It has the possibility to create a lot of jobs,” said Richard Porter, president of U.S. Mechanical, Inc. “And so we can manufacture in the U.S. a lot of the wind products that we now have to bring in from other countries."

PPG Industries supplies fiberglass and coatings for wind blades, much of the product from plants in Shelby and Lexington, where it ramped up production last September.

"Wind energy and turbine installations have been growing at a double-digit growth rate, so if you're positioned into that industry you're going to see that benefit," said Cheryl Richards, PPG's global market development manager.

Industry supporters say North Carolina is heading in the right direction as it considers a tax credit for renewable energy manufacturers.

"Also, state and local leadership [is] demonstrating that they are very interested in attracting this investment and helping companies transition,” said Paul Quinlan, director of economic research and development for the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association. “All the right pieces are in place."