STANDARD BLADE B R I G H T O N
SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1903
75cI
VOLUME 118
Issue 9
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021
Windmill maker lays off 280 from Brighton factory
Wind power company Vestas-American Wind Technology announced Feb. 18 that they would be laying off 280 employees at their Brighton blade manufacturing plant. It’s part of PHOTO BY SCOTT TAYLOR the company’s efforts to consolidate their operations across Colorado, with other changes announced at the company’s operations in Windsor and Pueblo.
Vestas-American Wind Technology shifting Colorado focus from manufacturing to maintenance BY SCOTT TAYLOR STAYLOR@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Projected changes to the wind energy market will impact Brighton right away as a maker of wind turbine blades announced it would lay
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off 280 from its Weld County plant. Danish-based manufacturer Vestas-American Wind Technology announced plans to consolidate its footprint in Colorado, combining operations in Windsor, Pueblo and Brighton. The company is one of the leaders in the global wind energy market, selling more than 13,000 turbines in the United States since 1979. The consolidation means that the company will cease making blades for the company’s towering windmills at the Brighton location, laying off 280 workers. The company will also cut employees at its Pueblo towers factory and Brighton
nacelles factories by a total of approximately 170 colleagues. “The wind energy industry in USA has grown tremendously in recent years, which has increased our factories’ capacity and expanded our service business,” company Chief Operations Officer Tommy Rahbek Nielsen said in a written statement. “With a larger fleet under service and lower demand in the near-term, we are therefore consolidating our setup in Colorado to ensure we can cater for our service business’ needs and are structured in the right way to ramp up efficiently once wind turbine demand requires us to.” The facility is just north of Brigh-
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ton on East Crown Prince Boulevard. Patrick Giron, director and chief executive officer of the Brighton Economic Development Corporation, said it’s a business decision by the company. “They are anticipating a slowdown in the market for new blades and new wind turbines but an increase in the need to maintain what is already in existence,” Giron said. “They are just right-sizing the operation throughout the state to respond to that anticipated change in their business.” SEE VESTAS, P3
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