Vestas cuts work week in Colorado to 24 hours

Vestas is cutting the work week for its Colorado employees because of an industry slowdown blamed on a delay in extending a wind tax credit.

Officials for the Danish wind turbine manufacturer told the Pueblo Chieftain they’re reducing the work week to 24 hours to avoid laying off more employees.

Congress extended the wind tax credit Tuesday as part of the measure that averted the fiscal cliff, raising hopes that some laid off workers could get their jobs back.

However, many customers had accelerated projects to start in 2012 to qualify for the credit. Wind projects take months to develop so 2013 could be a slow year for manufacturers at first.

Vestas reduced its Colorado workforce from 1,800 workers to 1,100 in 2012.