While nothing will probably replace the old economy factory jobs, it's gratifying to read about new success stories.
I gotta ask, why wasn't the company Boeing?
Vestas, a Danish company, recently invested in and built a 400,000 square foot factory not far from my QTH to manufacture large wind turbines for the North American market.These kind of businesses are a win-win for everyone, providing decent-paying jobs with benefits to manufacture products for the the growing renewable energy market.
Not long ago ago, Colorado voters passed a law mandating that the state's utility companies generate 20% of the state's electric power from renewable sources. Understandably contentious, but the payback is beginning to happen in tangible ways. Last year, 700 megawatts of wind and solar power was constructed here, that's about the output of a large coal-fired power plant. Regardless of politics and whether global warming is factual or not, this waste not mentality is good to see happening, IMO. And it's paying back in the form of real American jobs, too.
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World's top wind-turbine maker opens first U.S. plant in Colorado
By JUDITH KOHLER Associated Press Writer
Article Last Updated: 03/05/2008 05:32:34 PM MST
WINDSOR, Colo.The world's largest wind-turbine maker officially opened its first North American manufacturing plant Wednesday on Colorado's northern plains, where it expects to produce blades for 600 turbines a year.
Denmark-based Vestas Wind Systems will eventually employ about 650 workers at its 400,000-square-foot plant outside Windsor, about 60 miles north of Denver. It has about 200 workers now.
Ditlev Engel, Vestas' president and chief executive officer, said the United States was the company's largest market last year.
"We have great faith in the potential of our industry in this country," he said.
Gov. Bill Ritter attended the plant's ceremonial opening and called it "a victory for our state."
He said Vestas will help attract other renewable energy companies to Colorado. Ritter has set a goal of attracting renewable energy research and manufacturing operations to the state for what he calls the "New Energy Economy."
"We now have in-state manufacturing capacity to supply wind farms not just in Colorado but across North America," he said.
Ritter said the Vestas plant has already spawned conversations with other companies thinking about locating in Colorado. He declined to elaborate.
Vestas spokeswoman Lone Mortensen said the factory expects to reach full production in May. It finished its first blade on Jan. 31.
The plant will make 130- and 144-foot long blades weighing about 6 tons each. They will be used on two turbine sizes, producing either 1.65 megawatts or 3 megawatts.
One 3-megawatt wind turbine can supply more than 1,000 American homes with electricity for one year, Vestas said.
Vestas has installed more than 33,500 wind turbines in 63 countries and employs more than 15,000 people worldwide. It has installed more than 4,000 megawatts of wind power in this country.
Vestas cited Windsor's access to rail services and a skilled work force as reasons for choosing the location. Engel said the fact that Colorado has a statewide renewable energy standard was another factor.
Utilities selling electricity in Colorado must get 20 percent of their power from renewable energy sources by 2020.
The town and Weld County offered Vestas incentives worth a total of about $1.1 million in deferred development fees and tax breaks, interim Town Manager Kelly Arnold said.
Craig Cox, executive director of the Colorado-based Interwest Energy Alliance, a trade and advocacy group, called the plant "a true manifestation of the New Energy Economy."
He likened the significance of the plant to Colorado's voter-approved requirement that utilities get some of their energy from renewable sources.
"I think it shows Colorado is finally on the map," he said.
On the Net:
Vestas Blades America Inc.:
http://www.vestas.com