A New York-based developer of wind farms has established its mid-Atlantic headquarters in Lawrenceville.

EverPower, which recently completed a wind farm near Johnstown, has taken space in the Chocolate Factory on 43rd Street. In announcing the move during an open house yesterday, founder and CEO Jim Spencer said the office would begin with a staff of six but that he expected to double that within a year. The office eventually could employ as many as 35, he said.

About 50 guests turned out for the event, with U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle, D-Forest Hills; city Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, also a Democrat; and Allegheny Conference Executive Vice President Kathryn Zuberbuhler Klaber sharing the podium to welcome Everpower as an example of Pittsburgh's economic transformation.

In an interview, Mr. Spencer said Pittsburgh first came under consideration as an office location simply because of geography. The city was almost dead center of both existing and planned projects in Ohio, New York and Pennsylvania.

"Pittsburgh is closer to our western New York projects than our Manhattan office," he said.

Beyond geography, Mr. Spencer cited the availability of engineering talent, the city's moderate cost of living and the assistance of both the Allegheny Conference and the Regional Industrial Development Corporation, which was "really very cooperative in helping us to build out space" in the Chocolate Factory.

In August, the company completed the $143 million Highland Wind Farm, near Johnstown. EverPower's next slated project in the region, the Big Savage wind farm in Cambria County, will have an installed capacity of 200 megawatts. The company plans to begin construction in 201.