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Giant Wind Turbine Blade Arrives on Nicollet Mall
Giant Wind Turbine Blade Arrives on Nicollet Mall
Published 08-31-08
Submitted by Vestas Americas
What: A giant 131-foot blade for a Vestas wind turbine arrived overnight in downtown Minneapolis and is open for public viewing across the street from the Minneapolis Central Library on S. Nicollet Avenue, between S. 3rd and S. 4th Streets. An information tent will be open for the public to learn more about wind power and is being sponsored by Vestas and the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA).
The blade was made in America at Vestas' new blade factory in Windsor, CO, which opened in March 2008, and will create more than 650 new jobs in Colorado. The blade was in Denver last week for the Democratic National Convention. It will take part in Xcel Energy's "Celebrate the Energy" event planned at its headquarters on Thursday morning, Sept. 4. The blade departs Friday.
AWEA has reported a strong increase in domestic investment in wind energy and wind turbine component manufacturing facilities over the past 18 months. At least 41 facilities have been announced, opened, or expanded over that period of time, which will create over 9,000 jobs. The wind energy industry currently employs some 50,000 Americans (direct and indirect) and added 10,000 new jobs in 2007 alone, making it a growing bright spot in the U.S. economy.
MEDIA NOTE: B-roll of the nighttime delivery of the blade through the streets of Minneapolis is available at the blade site or by calling (616) 450-8180.
Media is invited to do stand-ups at the blade through Thursday evening, Sept. 4. The Minneapolis Central Library can be seen behind the blade.
Who:
Roby Roberts, Senior Vice President, External Relations, Vestas Americas
Tom Gray, Director of Communications, American Wind Energy Association
Where:
54 South 4th St., downtown Minneapolis (blade parallels S. Nicollet Avenue, between S. 3rd and S. 4th Streets)
Visuals:
131-foot wind turbine blade, a symbol of America's renewable energy potential
Minneapolis Central Library behind a wind turbine blade
When:
Sunday, August 31-Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008
10 a.m.-6 p.m. (public); media stand-ups can be done through Thursday night
Contacts:
Beth Hegde (in Minneapolis)
(616) 450-8180
Lee Weinstein
(503) 708-0402
email: lee@leeweinstein.biz
About Vestas
With a 23 per cent global market share in 2007, Vestas is the world's leading supplier of modern energy solutions. The company's core business comprises the development, manufacture, sale and maintenance of wind technology that uses wind energy to generate electricity. Vestas has installed more than 35,500 wind turbines in 63 countries, and has a track record of installing more than 9,600 wind turbines on American soil. For more information visit www.vestas.com.
About the American Wind Energy Association
AWEA is the national trade association of the U.S. wind energy industry. The association's membership includes global leaders in wind power development, wind turbine manufacturing, and energy, as well as a broad range of component and service suppliers. More information on wind energy is available at the AWEA web site: www.awea.org.
