Natural Disasters Fueling Generator Sales

Strong sales of home generators will mean hundreds of new jobs in Wisconsin.

Generator manufacturer, Generac Holdings Inc., will add 400 new jobs at factories in Waukesha, Whitewater and Eagle in the next few months. Generac says increased sales for generators have been fueled in part by Hurricane Irene and other natural disasters.

Company spokeswoman Heather Shannon Gaedtke says the positions will pay family-supporting wages. The Journal Sentinel says the Waukesha-based company employs 1,500 to 1,600 workers.

Generac says third-quarter profits increased nearly 63 percent compared with the same period last year.