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Portland city officials will travel to Spain this week to visit the parent company of Iberdrola Renewables to tout the importance of keeping the wind farm group’s U.S. headquarters in Portland.

Portland Mayor Sam Adams and Portland Development Commission Chair Scott Andrews will meet with Xabier Veteri, CEO of Iberdrola Renovables, at its headquarters near Madrid on Thursday. They return Saturday.

“It’s always nice to be wanted,” said Jan Johnson, a spokeswoman for Iberdrola Renewables, when asked how her company feels about the trip.

Iberdrola Renewables employs about 375 people in Portland at its facility at 1125 N.W. Couch Street, and about 850 people across the United States, Johnson said.

The trip is in response to rumors that have circulated that the company might move its headquarters elsewhere – since the company has grown rapidly and continues to need new space, Andrews said.

“There are some rumors to that effect,” Andrews said. “We think it would be timely for us to visit the folks making the decisions face to face and make sure all their questions are answered.”

The company is looking to expand its space, and its current lease expires in 2013, Johnson added.

“We’ve been weighing numerous options to meet our various needs,” Johnson said. “We’ve had a lot of growth over the past 10 years.”

But when asked directly if the company was looking at moving its headquarters to another state, Johnson declined to answer.

“I’m not really in a position to discuss it,” Johnson said.

Andrews and Adams have paired up for other quick economic development trips in the past, Andrews added.

“We work well together as a team, and this company is well worth the effort,” he said.

Still, emphasizing their case to Spanish officials could be difficult in at least one area – Andrews doesn’t speak a lick of Spanish, he said.

“Not a bit – I should bring my sons, they’re fluent,” Andrews said with a laugh. “My understanding though is that the company is very cosmopolitan and the language issue shouldn’t be a problem.”