North American Windpower: Vestas To Shutter All Three U.S. R&D Offices, Terminate Dozens Of Employees

by NAW Staff on Thursday 01 November 2012

Less than a month after wind turbine manufacturer Vestas announced it was consolidating its U.S. research and development (R&D) offices and transferring those operations and employees to its Brighton, Colo., office, the company says it will shutter all of its U.S. R&D operations, resulting in 85 layoffs.

Vestas will close its R&D facilities in Houston; Louisville, Colo.; and Marlborough, Mass., by the end of the second quarter of 2013. Instead of being moved to Brighton, as originally announced, 85 Vestas R&D employees will be terminated.

The company also closed R&D locations this year in China, Denmark and Singapore, and reduced its R&D employee base by about 20% compared with 2011.

Last month, Vestas announced two rounds of layoffs in Colorado, and in August, the company eliminated positions from its Brighton, Colo., assembly plant as part of its plan to reduce its head count by 3,700 this year.

Vestas says it will continue its R&D presence in six other locations around the world.

Like so many other companies in the wind energy supply chain that have recently trimmed their headcounts, Vestas has repeatedly cited reduced orders resulting from the lack of a production tax credit extension as the reason for the layoffs it has made.

Don't miss the latest wind energy news -- register to receive NAW's news headlines.

Latest Top Stories

As U.S. DOJ Investigates, Duke Works Adaptive Management Plan

With previous golden eagle fatalities reported at two company-owned wind farms in Wyoming, Duke Energy Renewables is going to great lengths to protect raptors.

DOE To Recast Landmark 20% Wind Energy Report; Study Looks Back, Ahead

The U.S. Department of Energy will update its 20% Wind Energy By 2030 report, which indicated increased levels of wind penetration for the U.S. is not only possible but feasible.

Wind Energy Procurement Top Of Mind For Big-Name Companies

With greater frequency, top-tier companies are discovering the economic and environmental power of wind energy and upping their investments in the resource.

WINDPOWER Panelists Issue A Call To Arms: Protect RPS Mandates

Votes on several legislative bills concerning state renewable portfolio standards (RPS) are nearing. How can you help protect and maintain these development drivers?

Wind Industry Still Awaits First Eagle-Take Permit Under BGEPA

The first wind developer to apply for a take permit under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act has withdrawn its application.