Vestas, a Danish wind turbine manufacturer, continues to expand its operations in Colorado and on Feb. 3 announced it plans to build the world's largest wind tower manufacturing facility in the state. According to a press release issued by Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, the $240 million investment in Pueblo, Colo., will produce up to 900 steel towers annually for Vestas wind turbines and employ 450 to 550 workers, not including other contracting and consulting jobs. The plant is scheduled to open in 2009.
Vestas is also opening two new production facilities in Brighton, Colo., one to make wind blades and the other to assemble nacelles (the housing units that sit atop the tower and contain the gearbox, generator and transformer). Vestas opened its first North American manufacturing facility in Windsor, Colo., earlier this year. All four production facilities amount to a $700 million capital investment by Vestas, and will result in the creation of nearly 2,500 new jobs in Colorado.
With a 23 percent global market share in 2007, Vestas is one of the world's largest wind turbine manufacturers. The company's core business comprises the development, manufacture, sale and maintenance of wind technology that uses wind energy to generate electricity. Vestas has installed more than 35,500 wind turbines in 63 countries, and has a track record of installing more than 9,600 wind turbines on American soil.