Vestas Wind Systems A/S of Randers, Denmark, recently announced that it will establish its first U.S.-based blade production facility at a 100-acre site in the Great Western Industrial Park in Windsor, Colo.

Vestas company officials, in a press release, said they chose the site based on the park's central location, as well as the direct access to rail services and a skilled work force. Vestas will employ about 400 people at the Weld County location.

The Metro Denver Economic Development Corp., the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, Upstate Colorado Economic Development, and the Town of Windsor worked cooperatively to assist Vestas in its site selection search.

“We are confident that we have chosen the right location for our 19,000 square meter (approximately 200,000 square feet) blade factory in the USA,” explained Ole Borup Jakobsen, president of Vestas Blades A/S. “The local authorities, economic development partners, and Great Western Development Company have shown strong commitment towards making this project a reality and we look forward to continuing our good relationship during and after the establishment of the factory.”

Vestas' total investment in production equipment, land, and buildings is approximately $60 million. Construction of the factory will begin in the spring of 2007, with a production start planned for early 2008. At full capacity, the plant will produce approximately 1,200 blades per year to supply a booming North American wind-energy market, much of it in the Rocky Mountain region.

Wind energy is one of the fastest growing energy industries in the world. In 2006 alone, the USA saw an increase of 30 percent in capacity, reaching nearly 12,000 total installed MW to date.

“As per 30 June 2006, Vestas had installed more than 9,300 wind turbines in the USA and Canada, and the market prospects continue to look promising," said Jens Søby, president of Vestas Americas A/S. “Establishing a blade production in Colorado is an important step forward in our strategy to grow our business in the North American market.”

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