Vestas Announces Layoffs in Colorado

By On February 21, 2013 · Leave a Comment · In Andrea Chalfin, Business, Business/Labor, Colorado, Energy, Grace Hood, KRCC News, Pueblo, RMCR, Text, Text Only

Wind turbine manufacturer Vestas is laying off workers at its Windsor and Brighton blade factories, the company announced today. The reduction affects 10% of Vestas’ statewide workforce of 1100 employees, and comes after Congress renewed a Wind Energy Tax Credit at the end of last year.

But Vestas spokeswoman Susan Innis says the late timing of the renewal is translating into fewer projects at the beginning of 2013.

“And that’s really due to the time it takes from orders placed to when a wind farm construction project begins. We know that the U.S. market will be strong as a result of the production tax credit extension. And Vestas is confident that orders will be placed and delivered from our U.S. factories.”

Remaining workers at the Windsor and Brighton blade factories will move back to a 40-hour workweek, after their hours were cut late last year to 32 per week. Employees who work at Vestas’ Pueblo wind tower plant and a nacelle factory in Brighton aren’t affected by today’s announcement. The company says it plans to add more than 100 jobs at its Pueblo factory by the end of the first quarter.


Image: Clipart

 
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