By Simon Leufstedt
Thursday, 4 September, 2008

About the Author

Simon Leufstedt is the editor of Green Blog. Simon has previously studied Global Environmental Justice and is currently studying Human Ecology and Political Science at Lund University in Sweden. Simon is also blogging over at the Swedish 350 website and working with the Swedish TckTckTck organisation. You can follow Simon on Twitter.

View all posts by Simon Leufstedt

2450 Green Tech Jobs Created in Colorado by Danish Wind Company Vestas

The sign says “Welcome to colorful Colorado”. Photo: Paraflyer.

It seems that as for every day that passes more and more jobs in USA gets outsourced and shipped overseas to countries with cheaper labour. That’s why it must be great news for the people of Colorado in USA that Vestas, the world’s leading supplier of wind energy, has announced that they will “outsource” 1350 new green tech jobs to Colorado.

Besides one factory already being built in Colorado at a total cost of $200 the Danish company Vestas will invest $120 million in a new blade factory and a nacelle assembly factory in Brighton. Thanks to these investments a total of 2450 people will be on Vestas payroll in Colorado.

“On behalf of the people of Colorado, I am grateful that Vestas has chosen to once again invest in our state,” says Bill Ritter, Governor of the State of Colorado. “This is a tremendous boon for all of Colorado, not just Brighton. By bringing more than 1,350 additional jobs here, Vestas is cementing its standing as one of Colorado’s pioneering partners in the New Energy Economy. I look forward to continuing the relationship for years to come. My administration has worked closely with Vestas to make the Brighton project a reality. This only adds momentum to our efforts to diversify our economy and grow these modern-energy industries of the future.”

The green tech jobs currently being created in Colorado mainly come from the state’s “growing political and economic commitment to renewables”, as the Washington Post reports:

Colorado’s growing political and economic commitment to renewables is causing fear in the oil and gas industry, which is fighting to keep its tax breaks and its influence over state rulemaking.

“We’re not feeling very cherished,” said Collins, whose oil and gas association represents more than 30 companies. The group objects to an initiative on the ballot in November; it would eliminate the industry’s 87.5 percent property tax exemption, estimated to cost the state treasury $230 million to $320 million a year.

If the ballot rule passes, the tax money will be channeled to renewable fuels, wildlife conservation and education. The industry also objects to proposed rules that would require greater public health and environmental protection in areas where drilling takes place.

An 87.5 percent property tax exemption? Yes, you read right. No wonder big oil likes status quo and does everything it can to halt any kind of transformation to a more sustainable energy market.

Via Solve Climate

More Like This Story

Support This Author

Did you find this article interesting? If so, please consider supporting this author by clicking the Flattr button. All Flattr clicks from this button will go directly to Simon Leufstedt. Thank you for supporting our independent content creators!

Comment Guideline

Comments with profanity, personal attacks or objectionable material will be edited or deleted. Feel free to refute someone's points or offer counter arguments, but please do not engage in name calling.