WINDSOR — The world’s largest wind-turbine maker officially opened its first U.S. manufacturing plant Wednesday in northern Colorado, where it expects to produce blades for 600 turbines a year.
Denmark-based Vestas Wind Systems plans to employ 600 workers at its 400,000-square- foot plant outside Windsor, about 60 miles north of Denver. It now has about 200 workers.
Ditlev Engel, Vestas’ president and chief executive, 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.
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 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.
