Alstom to build U.S. turbines plant

PARIS, Dec 11 (Reuters) - French industrial power and transport systems group Alstom (ALSO.PA: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) on Tuesday said it would invest over $200 million to build a new manufacturing facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States.

The site will manufacture steam turbines, gas turbines, generators and related equipment for use in U.S. power generation facilities and create 350 jobs at a time that the dollar/euro exchange rate makes it more attractive for European groups to produce in North America.

In November, Alstom announced it had been selected by UniStar Nuclear Energy (UNE) to supply at least four steam turbine generators for UNE's planned fleet of nuclear power plants in the U.S.. Alstom plans to make these turbines at Chattanooga. (Reporting by Marcel Michelson)