Vestas invests in Windsor plant expansion for new turbine line - Coloradoan

Vestas invests in Windsor plant expansion for new turbine line

Vestas to expand Windsor plant for new line of wind turbines
Pat Ferrier

Danish wind turbine manufacturer Vestas Wind Systems plans to invest up to $40 million in its Windsor and Brighton plants to manufacture and bring to market its new V163-4.5MW turbine that offers increased power output at medium and lower wind speeds when demand for energy is highest.

The new manufacturing line will create between 800 and 1,000 new jobs, including about 150 high school interns, according to the company. Production will begin in Windsor this year and next year at Vestas' Brighton Nacelles plant. It is unknown how many jobs specifically will come to Windsor.

Both factories will continue to support the production of Vestas' 2MW platform and the Brighton Nacelles facility will continue producing its V150-4.5MW turbine, the company said.

Hiring at the blades factory will begin this year and the nacelles factory in 2024.

"Wind energy is a key economic driver for local communities, and we look forward to bringing new clean energy jobs and economic development to Colorado," said Laura Beane, president of Vestas North America, in a press statement.

In 2020, the company signed an incentive agreement with Windsor that provided a 50% personal property tax rebate on equipment in exchange for a $15 million investment in two different phases and the retention of 1,105 jobs through 2028.

In 2021, Vestas Blades America consolidated production of its wind turbine blades into its Windsor facility and laid off hundreds of workers across Colorado amid a drop in demand for wind power. At that time, Vestas employed more than 29,000 workers worldwide, 4,500 in the U.S. and more than 2,000 in Windsor.

"It's amazing they’re continuing to invest in their facility and jobs in our community," said Windsor Economic Development Director Stacy Brown. "They’re investing in their facility here and that keeps them competitive globally. It's a significant signal they are committed to Windsor."

Vestas, which opened in Windsor in 2008, has gone through three major expansions in facilities, equipment and jobs, including a multimillion-dollar equipment upgrade to make the factory more viable to the new lines of blades being produced.

In 2018, Windsor provided a 50% personal property tax rebate for Vestas that helped create 150 jobs and retained 1,103, according to the town's economic development office.

In 2019-20, the town, Weld County and the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade provided incentives and personal property tax rebates to help Vestas upgrade the Windsor facility and equipment.

Windsor provided another 50% personal property tax rebate as part of the $85 million building and equipment upgrades. That helped retain 105 full-time and 200 part-time jobs.

To promote workforce development, Vestas offers an internship program to provide high school students with hands-on manufacturing training as part of an apprenticeship program. Vestas expects to hire about 150 high school graduates in the coming years.

The expansion will also create local construction jobs, the company said.

According to Vestas, the company spent more than $465 million in Colorado across the local supply chain and donates $30,000 each year to the local community.

“I am so excited by Vestas' new investment in Colorado and the over 800 good new jobs being created in Weld and Adams counties," Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement. "Colorado is the best place to start and grow a business, and the clean energy sector is really taking off."