Every day we hear the doom and gloom of another company announcing layoffs. Well, it’s time for a little good news.
Wind turbine maker Vesta Wind Systems has announced it will hire nearly 3,000 more people in the U.S.
This story from Marketwatch.com says the Denmark-based company believes it will be able to cash in on Pres. Obama’s push for alternative energy:
While other major corporations lay people off to preserve their shrinking bottom lines, Vestas’ fortunes have grown as the world attempts to wean itself off fossil fuels and promote sources of power that don’t contribute to global warming.
Although some critics object to paying subsidies to overseas companies, [Vestas Wind Systems CEO Ditlev] Engel argues that Vestas plans to invest more heavily here than others.
He also pointed out that U.S. investors also stand to benefit if the company prospers, since nearly a third of the company’s equity holders are based here. And the U.S. remains the largest potential marketplace for Vestas….
For Engel, the U.S. offers some of the best wind resources in the world, and he’s gearing up to put 4,000 employees on the Vestas payroll here, up from about 1,200 now, during the worst economic downturn in a generation.
Engel goes on to say that the U.S. has the best wind resources in the world. He likens not harvetsing wind in America to not drilling for oil in Saudi Arabia.
He and other wind companies will be closely watching Friday’s vote on the economic stimulus package.