Vestas selling Pueblo tower factory to South Korean-based company

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) -- Vestas, a wind turbine company, has decided to end its business relationship with the city of Pueblo.

Our news partners at The Pueblo Chieftain report Vestas is pulling out of Pueblo and selling the plant to a South Korea-based wind tower manufacturing company.

For the past 12 years, Vestas has employed hundreds of Pueblo residents. Currently, there are about 500 working at the manufacturing facility. In February, the company laid off 450 workers from its Colorado plants, including 120 workers in Pueblo.

Chante Condit-Pottol, head of external communications for Vestas North America, told The Pueblo Chieftain there will likely be a six-to eight-week transition period. The new company, CS Wind, is expected to completely take over the Pueblo facility in August.

According to a Vestas' statement, CS Wind plans on expanding offerings, including manufacturing towers to other wind turbine manufacturers through a multi-brand strategy. The new company will also be able to sell towers and other equipment manufacturers beyond Vestas.

Current employees will be offered a chance to transfer to CS Wind or move to another Vestas plant somewhere else. Other Vestas properties in Colorado will not be impacted by the Pueblo acquisition.

For more information, read the full story by The Pueblo Chieftain here.