Pueblo might be known as the Steel City, but it is also home to the world’s largest wind turbine manufacturing plant.

It is that manufacturing presence that is drawing President Joe Biden, Gov.Jared Polis and other officials to visit the CS Wind turbine tower manufacturing facility Wednesday in Pueblo.

CS Wind, a South Korean-based company, owns the plant located in southeast Pueblo County at 100 Tower Road, approximately 10 miles southeast of downtown. The plant is the world’s largest producer of wind turbine towers and is the only American facility owned by CS Wind.

The plant was built by Denmark-based Vestas and opened in 2009. CS Wind bought the facility in 2021. It owns facilities in eight countries on three continents and has provided more than 13,000 towers for projects globally, according to its website.

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CS Wind was established in 2003 with the opening of its Vietnam plant. It produces towers for onshore and offshore wind power. It then delivers towers to energy companies throughout the world. The company employs more than 3,500 people.

“CS Wind is an important business for the Pueblo economy as their Pueblo facility is the largest wind tower manufacturing plant in the world – which is helping our community lead the nation in renewable energy,” Pueblo Mayor Nick Gradisar said in a statement sent to The Gazette Monday.

CS Wind currently employs more than 600 employees. It has added approximately 200 jobs during the past year.

That number could increase significantly after the plant began a 900,000-square-foot expansion project in April. CS Wind estimates it will add roughly 850 new jobs by the time the project is complete in 2028.

“They’re an excellent partner and a leader in their industry, elevating Pueblo on a global scale,” Gradisar said.

The company’s long-term goal is to produce 10,000 turbine sections per year in Pueblo by the end of the project.

The plant’s expansion was originally part of CS Wind’s plans when it purchased the facility. The project has been spurred on by the federal Inflation Reduction Act, according to a press release from Burns & McDonnell, which is responsible for construction of the expansion. 

Biden signed the act into law in August 2022. The IRA provides tax incentives for green-energy manufacturing. The legislation is geared toward building clean-energy supply chains and clean-energy jobs in America.

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The legislation fits with Colorado’s goal of being a 100% renewable-energy state by 2040.

Daneya Esgar, a Pueblo County commissioner and former member of the Colorado House of Representatives , welcomed Biden ahead of his visit and said she was excited for the opportunity to showcase Pueblo’s efforts in transitioning to renewable energy while creating jobs in that sector.

“Locally CS Wind is doing an excellent job leading the way in wind energy,” Esgar said Tuesday. “I am excited to hear more about how the president can help invest more in clean energy locally as well as growing our economy.”

Biden visit

Biden attended former first lady Rosalynn Carter’s memorial service in Atlanta on Tuesday. Carter died on Nov. 19 at age 96.

The president’s Pueblo visit follows a trip to Denver on Tuesday night, where he was to have a campaign fundraiser as he gears up for the 2024 presidential election.

According to a White House press release about Wednesday’s visit, Biden is expected to speak on how “Bidenomics” is “mobilizing investments in clean-energy manufacturing and creating good-paying jobs in communities across the country, including in Colorado’s Third Congressional District.”

Polis shared his excitement for Biden’s visit in a statement issued Monday.

“We are thrilled to welcome President Joe Biden to Pueblo, the home of heroes and the best chile in the world – the Pueblo chile,” said Polis in the statement. “Colorado is leading the nation in transitioning to 100% renewable energy, and our wind manufacturing capabilities are helping to power our clean energy economy, create jobs and save people money on electricity.”

Polis also lauded Colorado’s effort to move toward renewable energy and Biden’s efforts to help improve infrastructure around the nation.

“We continue working to advance our goal of achieving 100% renewable energy in Colorado by 2040. I appreciate the president’s partnership on Colorado’s comprehensive plans to fix our roads, bridges and our overall effort to add more rail and train options for Colorado so people can get to work and where they want to go faster, safer and more efficiently.”

Biden originally was scheduled to visit Pueblo on Oct. 16, but postponed the trip to take part in national security meetings on the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

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Biden’s trip will mark his second trip to Colorado in less than six months. He delivered the Air Force Academy commencement address on June 1 in Colorado Springs.

The White House press release also states that the president will highlight how “self-described MAGA Republicans like Representative Lauren Boebert are threatening those investments, jobs and opportunities.”

Boebert, who represents Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District – including Pueblo County – has been a vocal opponent of the Inflation Reduction Act, as well as his other clean-energy policies. She voted against the IRA in the House last year.

Boebert sent a written comment to The Gazette on Monday in response to Biden’s scheduled Pueblo visit.

“Families in Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District are being crushed by so-called Bidenomics,” read Boebert’s statement. “On his watch, credit card debt, inflation, groceries and gas prices have all reached record highs. These high prices are squeezing working-class Coloradans and rural America.”

Boebert’s statement went on to criticize Biden’s spending and stance on energy production. She attacked Biden for not cutting federal spending and focusing on clean energy. She accused the president of pandering to “radical extremists” and stated the president continues to “lock up more land.” Boebert also stated that Biden has spent his time on “campaign stunts” and “vacations” rather than “doing the job he was elected to.”

She also touted her Pueblo Jobs Act while admonishing the IRA.

“Instead of touting the poorly named Inflation Reduction Act that mandated Green New Deal policies that cost taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars, Joe Biden should work with me to get my Pueblo Jobs Act signed into law that will create 1,000 new jobs in Pueblo and help revitalize Southern Colorado’s economy,” the statement read

Boebert claims the Pueblo Jobs Act would ensure 1,000 jobs to those working at the Pueblo Chemical Depot Chemical Agency Destruction Pilot Plant after its closure. Depot workers recently completed destruction of its stockpile of chemical weapons. The depot is set to close in 2025, although local outlets reported Tuesday the process may take longer.

The bill was included in the National Defense Authorization Act, which passed the House in July and is awaiting Senate approval before it becomes law.

U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper have introduced legislation that would return the land the depot sits on back to Pueblo. The bill would assist in redeveloping the land and creating jobs.