I stopped by a press conference yesterday for Vestas, the wind energy company, where state leaders were hailing the company’s recent investment in Colorado. Vestas has plans for four major manufacturing plants in Colorado where they will build the components of wind turbines like blades to towers. They estimate that the plants will create 2,500 jobs and generate $600 million in investment. Gov. Bill Ritter (D) and Reps. Mark Udall and Ed Perlmutter were on hand for the event, as were representatives from Vestas and the American Wind Energy Association.
I caught up with AWEA executive director Randall Swisher after the event to talk about the legislative moves needed to help advance the wind industry (hint: tax extensions!).
I also got in one question for Mark Udall, who’s represented the state in the House for a decade. He’s now running for the Senate seat that Wayne Allard (R) is vacating:
