Vestas plans to build research and development center in U.S.

A major blade manufacturing plant in east Windsor appears to be only a starting point for global wind-power giant Vestas Wind Systems.

The company, based out of Denmark, announced Thursday that it now has intentions to build a research and development center in the United States.

"Today, Vestas is a technology enterprise. If we want to be market leaders, we have to be present and drive the development, where the market is. And that is, amongst other places, in the U.S.," said Finn Strom Madsen, president of Vestas Technology R&D in a press release.

The center is expected to be operating in 2009 and could employ up to 80 people at full capacity in 2010.

Vestas Blades America Inc. broke ground June 14 on its first American manufacturing plant with a 200,000-square-foot site between the O-I bottling plant and Kodak Colorado in southeast Windsor. The company originally planned to build more than 400, 40-meter wind turbines a year in the beginning, employing around 450 people.

But on Nov. 6, the company announced plans to double its original plans for the Windsor plant. The expansion adds another 150 jobs and is expected to be at full capacity by spring 2009 -- the same time as the new research and development center.

No possible sites have been named for the research facility, but the press release states Vestas generally looks for options close to large and recognized universities for its research and development sites.

"It is crucial for us to be able to attract the best talents globally and, at the same time, to take part in the technological development in cooperation with some of the world's leading universities," Madsen said in the release. "Being located close to a university will therefore be our first priority."

Although no one has confirmed any positioning near Colorado State University, the college has its own upcoming wind plans that fall in line with the Vestas announcement.

In March, CSU officials announced its intentions to convert its entire Fort Collins campus energy use to 100 percent wind power through the construction of the CSU Green Power Project, a wind farm in northern Colorado that will generate more power than the university consumes. The project also will serve as an outdoor laboratory for researchers across campus in areas ranging from clean energy technology development to a variety of related environmental impact studies.

In research, CSU is internationally recognized for developing clean energy solutions such as alternative fuels, clean engines, photovoltaic or solar-powered devices, smart electric power grids and wind and water resources.

Wind Holding LLC will begin construction on the CSU project within two years.

"This is an unprecedented opportunity for a private sector wind power company to combine its years of practical expertise with the world-class green energy research capabilities of Colorado State University," Bruce Morley, chief executive officer of Wind Holding LLC, said earlier this year.

No one from CSU was available for comment on the Vestas announcement.