Vestas to Close Louisville Facility

Vestas is consolidating its three U.S. research and development operations to Brighton amid a market slowdown. The company says the consolidation, which includes the closure of a 48,000 SF building in Louisville, is due to uncertainty on whether Congress will renew a wind tax credit. In July 2010, Vestas signed a six-year lease in Louisville, where it set up its Technology R&D Centre. The company said at the time it would employ about 75 to 100 workers in the first year with an average annual salary of $80,000. Note: Blaming the wind tax renewal uncertainty for the consolidation is just an excuse. Wind power profits have decreased over the past three years; at the same time prices for natural gas have reached an all-time low.