BROOMFIELD — Renewable Energy Systems Americas Inc. is moving its headquarters from Austin, Texas, to Broomfield, bringing dozens of high-paying jobs to the Denver suburb.
The wind farm developer says it plans to relocate 70 full-time jobs from Texas to Broomfield and to add 70 more Broomfield-based employees in the next year.
RES-Americas currently has 160 employees in the U.S. and Canada.
Operations in Broomfield began Monday. City staff said average salaries at the RES-Americas office were expected to be $110,000 in 2011.
Earlier this month, Denmark-based Vestas Wind Systems officially opened its first North American manufacturing plant in Windsor, about 50 miles away. The plant eventually will employ 650 workers, producing blades for 600 wind turbines a year.
Last month ConocoPhillips said it would open a renewable-energy research hub and corporate learning center in Louisville.
RES-Americas says 30 of its Austin workers will remain at a regional office there. RES-Americas also has regional offices in Portland, Ore.; Minneapolis and Montreal.
It already has a 300-megawatt wind project in Colorado, in Elbert and Lincoln counties.
The company said the Denver area is attractive to employees and is supportive of renewable energy. Gov. Bill Ritter has been working to position Colorado as a leader in the industry as part of a “New Energy Economy.”
“Colorado has demonstrated immense leadership in the development of renewable resources and alternative energy,” said RES-Americas President Craig Mataczynski.
Ritter said the company was an example that Colorado is being recognized as a leader in renewable energy.
Sen. Wayne Allard, D-Colo., said he was proud Colorado is becoming a hub of energy technology development.
According to Broomfield City Council documents, Broomfield offered RES-Americas tax breaks estimated to be worth $35,545, as long as RES-Americas employs at least 70 in town from 2010-2019.
No state incentives were offered to lure the company, according to the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade.
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