Apr 28 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Ryan Frank The Oregonian, Portland, Ore.


Vestas Wind Systems' announced 1,900 layoffs in Northern Europe today and kicked up worries that the wind-turbine giant may be killing plans to expand its North American headquarters in Portland.

Roby Roberts, Vestas America senior vice president of external relations, said today that the company still plans its expansion in Portland. But he said the speed of the expansion will be delayed because the company's growth has slowed and because the credit markets remain frozen. Vestas had hoped to break ground on its $250 million headquarters this summer, but those plans have been delayed to late 2009 or early 2010, Roberts said.

Vestas executives first said they would add about 850 white-collar workers to their existing Portland workforce of about 350. But the company has more recently revised that number to about 500 new jobs.

Roberts said the company has not re-opened its search to locate its headquarters elsewhere. "We're still committed to Portland," Roberts said.

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