Vestas Wind Systems A/S (OMX: VWS) factory workers in Brighton and Windsor will fill an order for additional V100-2.0 megawatt turbines from EDF Renewable Energy for two wind-energy projects.
Vestas announced the order in September, but it has been increased from 750 megawatts to 1,174 megawatts. The projects, known as Hereford 1 and Longhorn North, are located in the Texas panhandle.
"It's good news for our Colorado factories," a Vestas spokesman said. "Blade factories are definitely going to ramp up in the first half of 2014."
The Hereford 1 project will feature 50 V100-2.0 megawatt turbines, while the Longhorn North project will include 100 units of the same turbine. Deliveries and commissioning for both projects are expected to occur in the second half of 2014.
Texas is one of the strongest wind-power markets in the world, where Vestas already has supplied turbines to nine major wind power plants in the state, said Chris Brown, president of Vestas' sales and service division in the United States and Canada.
"This order also will help to create more American jobs at our blade, tower and nacelle factories in Colorado," Brown said in a statement.
To meet customer demand, Vestas is adding more workers at three of its Colorado factories, the blade factory in Windsor as well as the blade and nacelle factories in Brighton. Vestas is recruiting now and expects to add hundreds of production workers in the first half of 2014 in Windsor and Brighton, primarily at the two blade factories.
Candidates interested can apply at ElwoodWindJobs.com.