Siemens picks Boulder

Colorado gained a wind research center Tuesday, helping recover from a loss on Monday as the state races toward a new energy economy.

Siemens Energy will establish its U.S. wind turbine research center in Boulder. The company, an arm of German giant Siemens, said the facility will employ 50 and focus on atmospheric science research, aerodynamic blade design, wind turbine dispatch prediction and reliability.

This offsets the decision of Danish company Vestas, the world's largest supplier of wind turbines, to set up its new U.S. research center in Houston, beating out Colorado.

Siemens chose Boulder for its proximity to important institutions such as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the National Wind Technology Center, as well as the "support received from the state of Colorado and the city of Boulder," said Randy Zwirn, head of Siemens' Energy Sector in the U.S.

Siemens Energy Sector logged revenues of nearly $31 billion in the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 2007, with profits of $2.8 billion. It employs 73,500 across the world. To read more...