Events
Wind Power: Ambassador Cain Visits Vestas
Lem and Ringkøbing
November 27, 2006
A spectacular flight around Horn's Reef, one of the largest offshore wind farms in the world, capped the day of Ambassador Cain's visit with Vestas CEO Ditlev Engel.
Arriving before daybreak at Roskilde airport, Ambassador Cain joined Vestas CEO Ditlev Engel and Government Relations VP Peter Brun for a day of learning about wind power and its potential of contributing to the U.S. economy and energy supply. The visit included a tour of one of Vestas' blade manufacturing plants in Lem and a tour of Vestas Nacelles in Ringkøbing. Nacelle refers to the structure on the top of the turbine tower which houses the generating components and holds the blades.
In one hour, a 3 MW turbine, the largest produced by Vestas, produces the amount of electricity consumed by a Danish family in one year. "Think of the potential impact on our energy security and on the environment if we installed wind capacity in the 6 percent of the continental U.S. which has already been identified as highly suitable for construction of wind turbines." Ambassador Cain commented.
CEO Engel's presentation emphasized the "high five" of wind power. "Wind is the only power source that can be competitive with oil and gas. The U.S. is embracing Vestas' high five, and it will help it achieve its goal of energy security."
Wind is an unlimited resource.
Wind power can compete with fossil energy sources if the comparison is made on equal terms.
Wind power contributes to a higher level of self-sufficiency.
Wind power makes it possible to establish a large volume of MW in a relatively short time.
Wind power is a CO2 positive form of energy that makes a positive contribution to a country’s goals for reducing emissions of greenhouse gases.
CEO Engel confirmed that Vestas will be building a blade plant in the U.S. in 2007. In addition to the manufacturing jobs which the plant will create, Engel emphasized the spill-over jobs created in transportation and construction.