Trade association: Colorado No. 8 in wind power

Colorado ranks No. 8 in the country for overall wind power, according to the American Wind Energy Association.

The national trade association ranked the state No. 5 for its installation of more than 500 megawatts of wind power and more than 260 wind turbines in 2011. Texas ranked No. 1 for overall wind power while California gained the top spot for new wind power installations. Ohio was the fastest growing state for wind power last year.

Federal tax credits have leveraged private investment in the industry, driving increased industry activity and job creation, the trade association said. The nation’s wind industry installed more than 6,800 megawatts in 2011, a 31-percent rise from the year before. More than 8,300 megawatts are under construction.

In a statement, the group urged Congress to extend the tax credits that are set to expire at the end of the year. Failure to renew the tax credits would lead to a loss of 37,000 American jobs and cut private investment by nearly two thirds, said the group, citing a report by Navigant Consulting.

Vestas has threatened to cut as many as 1,600 U.S. manufacturing jobs if Congress does not extend the tax credit. The company has four factories in the state, including a blade factory in Windsor employing 750 people. The company employs more than 1,800 workers in Colorado.

Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colorado, said in a separate statement that Congress’ inaction was preventing Vestas and other companies from planning ahead.

“It is jeopardizing our jobs, the wind industry and Colorado’s lead as a renewable energy producer,” Udall said in the statement. “I urge my colleagues to get to work and extend this tax credit before hundreds of jobs are lost in Colorado.”