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Hickenlooper still ‘gathering information' on rural energy renewables mandate
May 15, 2013 by Eli Stokols in Fox 31 TV

The Democratic sponsors of Senate Bill 252, which will force rural electricity associations to draw more of its energy from renewable sources, ended the legislative session last week believing that Gov. John Hickenlooper was certain to sign their bill.

Vestas' struggle continues, more layoffs still to come
May 8, 2013 by Sharon Dunn in Greeley Tribune

The struggling Danish company with four manufacturing plants in Colorado -- three of which are in Weld County -- saw a 34 percent decrease in production, a 26 percent decrease in deliveries, a 1 percent reduction in revenue, and a 24 percent decrease in employees since the first of the year, while it continued to come out of a two-year, debilitating slowdown.

Vestas in talks on Colorado factory sale amid operations overhaul
March 12, 2013 by Clemens Bomsdorf in Dow Jones Business News

After a tough year marked by profit-warnings and job cuts, Danish wind turbine maker Vestas Wind Systems A/S (VWS.KO) is looking to overhaul its business model by fostering closer ties with parts suppliers and concentrating its own activities on higher margin turbine engineering and design and service of wind power plants.

Cuts continue at Brighton, Windsor Vestas blade factories; 110 layoffs announced
February 26, 2013 by Gene Sears in Brighton Standard Blade

Continuing a downward spiral of insecurity for their Colorado workforce, Vestas Wind announced more cutbacks this week. Slashing an additional 10 percent of the 1,100 still employed in the state, the layoffs comprise approximately 110 workers.

Vestas issues more layoffs in Colorado, ends work-share program
February 22, 2013 in North American Windpower

Less than two months after launching a work-share program designed to retain employees at three of its Colorado manufacturing facilities, Vestas has announced that it is laying off a total of 110 workers at its blade factories in Windsor and Brighton, Colo. ...Earlier this month, Vestas said it expects to lay off another 1,800 employees globally by the end of this year.

Colorado Energy Office misspends millions in stimulus funds
January 29, 2013 by Michael Sandoval in The Foundry

Twenty of 22 contracts administered by the agency contained incorrect or missing information in the state contract database, with six missing performance elements and another 13 missing contractor progress reports. ...The audit also discovered that as many as 16 travel and other expenditures "lacked appropriate approval and justification documentation." This included a line item for a $25,000 expenditure listed only as "2008 Membership."

Also filed under [ USA]

Vestas trimmed workweek set to begin Jan. 14
January 4, 2013 by Sharon Dunn in Wondsor Noew

In an announcement this week, Vestas stated it was still going through with previously announced cost-cutting measures, which included further trimming its payrolls by another 2,000 employees worldwide by the end of this year. “We can’t speculate on how the PTC extension will affect future employment levels at our Colorado factories.”

Vestas not saying if workers will be re-hired
January 3, 2013 in Associated Press

Wind turbine manufacturer Vestas isn't saying whether any of its laid-off Colorado workers will get their jobs back now that Congress has extended a wind tax credit.

Vestas Wind Systems cuts more Colorado jobs
October 12, 2012 in The Denver Post

Wind power company Vestas Wind Systems made its single largest Colorado job cut Thursday, laying off about 200 workers at a Windsor blade plant. The cuts represent 29 percent of the plant's workforce.

Vestas cuts 75 workers at its Brighton wind turbine blade factory
October 10, 2012 by Mark Jaffe in The Denver Post

Vestas Wind Systems, the wind turbine manufacturer that built four factories in Colorado, announced its third round of job cuts on Tuesday, firing 75 workers at its blade factory in Brighton.

Also filed under [ USA]

Failing wind market leads to job cuts at Vestas Pueblo factory
August 13, 2012 by Mark Jaffe in Denver Post

"In response to this market slowdown and in accordance with its business needs, Vestas Towers America in Pueblo, Colo., today adjusted its manufacturing workforce. This workforce reduction in the tower factory represents approximately 3 percent of Vestas' total workforce in the U.S. and Canada."

Also filed under [ USA]

Utilities board becalms wind power plans
February 23, 2012 by Andrew Wineke and Daniel Chacon in The Gazette

Former Mayor Lionel Rivera, who has been a critic of the wind plan, called the decision "good news for our community." Rivera argued that Utilities won't need additional generating capacity for years to come and has invested heavily in Neumann Systems Group's clean coal technology.

In show of municipal power, Boulder votes to ax Xcel
November 3, 2011 by David Shaffer in Star Tribune

Xcel, which is already a big producer of wind electricity, argued that it was in the best position to help Boulder meet ambitious renewable goals. Its plan aimed to supply 70 percent of the city's power from renewable sources within a year.

‘Green jobs' farm in Colorado sheds jobs after receiving $200M in stimulus funds
October 4, 2011 by Matthew Boyle in The Daily Caller

NREL spokesman Bob Noun blames Congress for the organization's failures. The Denver Post reports that he believes the gridlocked U.S. Congress forced the NREL to find $8 million in new budgetary savings. "We don't see any budget scenario where the lab doesn't face budget cuts," Noun said.

Also filed under [ USA]

Xcel aggressively fighting city's move to create own utility
August 20, 2011 in St. Paul Business Journal

The committee is being formed "for the purpose of opposing the takeover of the electric system in Boulder and that it will also support the work of the Boulder Smart Energy Coalition Issue Committee chaired by David Miller," Xcel said in a statement.

Wind rights discussions being set in motion
August 15, 2011 by Eric Brown in Greeley Tribune

Wind rights legislation - particularly that which supports wind rights being unsevered from property ownership - is an issue that's expected to draw attention as 2012 draws nearer, state and local politicians say.

Xcel, Boulder can't agree on deal for green energy
July 15, 2011 by Dan Browning in Star Tribune

Xcel said it remains committed to its customers in Boulder, a city of roughly 100,000 residents about 30 miles north of Denver. Xcel maintains that Boulder can reduce its carbon emissions better with its help than it could on its own, "and without the significant cost and inherent risk of municipalization."

Xcel Energy pushing wind power
June 10, 2011 by Beth Potter in Boulder County Business Report

The city government could initially pay more for the proposed new wind power, since wind energy currently costs more than fossil fuels, Xcel said in a press statement. In later years of the plan, the city could receive money back as the cost of fossil fuels increase and wind energy becomes more valuable.

Lawsuit contends Vestas misled in financial reports
May 6, 2011 by Steve Porter in Northern Colorado Business Report

Vestas Wind Systems, one of Northern Colorado's biggest employers with manufacturing facilities in Windsor and Brighton and another in Pueblo, is facing a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Denver over accounting practices.

Federal suit challenges Colorado renewable-energy standard
April 5, 2011 by Cathy Proctor in Denver Business Journal

The interstate commerce clause of the U.S. Constitution doesn't permit a state to impose burdens on the interstate market for electricity, lawsuit backers argue. Wind energy, in particular, costs more than traditional fuels and creates more pollution because coal or natural gas is needed to generate electricity when the wind doesn't blow.

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