LOUISVILLE — Danish wind energy giant Vestas announced Tuesday night that it’s opening a research and development office in Louisville that will employ up to 240 people over the next several years.

The company made the announcement of the opening — which had been code-named “Project Excitement” — at the Louisville City Council meeting.

Vestas, which will occupy 47,000 square feet at 361 Centennial Parkway — an office building behind Lowe’s — already has manufacturing operations in Brighton, Windsor and Pueblo. It described its research and development office in Louisville as a new division of the company.

“We’ve invested very heavily in Colorado to have our base here for our North American wind manufacturing operations,” said Susan Innis, senior manager for government state relations for Vestas. “We found a great space here, and we have lots of support from the community.”

Innis said the company didn’t make its move to Louisville known until it had to because Vestas’ investments are “competitively sensitive.”

Representatives of the company came before the City Council on Tuesday to ask for a business assistance package from Louisville that will rebate part of Vestas’ building permit fee, which should amount to $5,500.

The council approved the company’s request unanimously and enthusiastically.

“We probably don’t have questions as much as we have commendations to your company for choosing our city,” Mayor Chuck Sisk said.

Vestas pays an average $80,000 salary to its employees, according to the company.

“Primary jobs are important to any economic development,” Councilman Hank Dalton said Tuesday. “High-priced staff means that there will be disposable income and that employees will be inclined to spend money here.”

Vestas expects to hire up to 100 people in its first year in Louisville and projects a first-year payroll of $8 million. It is starting off with an engineering staff of 46, who will support Vestas’ Colorado manufacturing operations.

The company stated in a letter to the city that it is opening the research and development office in Louisville to “increase turbine efficiency and lower the cost of energy.”

Innis said Vestas chose Louisville because it will provide easy access for the company’s engineers to its manufacturing sites throughout the state.

Vestas builds wind turbine towers in Pueblo, manufactures turbine blades in Windsor and makes gearboxes at its Brighton plant. Its entire U.S. presence is in Colorado, Innis said, and it only moved into the state two years ago.

Tuesday’s announcement represents the second wind-energy company in as many weeks to open up a location in Louisville. American Zephyr, a Japanese-based company that makes small wind turbines, recently leased a space in the Colorado Technology Center.