Energy/Clean Technology

As a leader in the new energy economy, Colorado has all the resources that support this growing industry sector. The integration of renewable energy and the state’s rich energy resource base puts the region at the forefront of new energy development for the nation.

The nine-county Metro Denver and Northern Colorado region ranked seventh in the country for cleantech employment concentration and eighth for fossil energy employment in 2009. Overall, the energy industry cluster employs 32,100 people in the area.

Metro Denver offers world-class energy research centers and universities such as the Colorado School of Mines (CSM), the only university in the nation to offer baccalaureate through doctorate degrees in all key energy fields, and the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the nation’s primary laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency R&D.

In addition, a research partnership between NREL, the Colorado School of Mines, Colorado State University and the University of Colorado – the Colorado Renewable Energy Collaboratory — is working closely with the private sector to develop renewable energy technologies for rapid commercialization.

The region is quickly becoming a national center for cleantech development with several companies positioning major manufacturing facilities including Vestas Wind Systems, SMA Solar Technology, Ascent Solar and Abound Solar.  And ConocoPhillips is developing its new Global Technology and Corporate Learning Center in Metro Denver to serve as the hub for its R&D in making liquid fuels from renewable sources as well as a site for training thousands of employees on new energy applications. 

In early 2010, Bye Energy, Inc., announced a proof of concept electric hybrid airplane project, the Green Flight Project, that uses an electric hybrid propulsion system. The company is collaborating with select technical partners including UQM Technologies, Inc, Porous Power Technologies, LLC, Scion Aviation, LLC, EEtrex Inc., Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. and Vertical Power, Inc., to develop a clean energy propulsion alternative to internal combustion engines that currently power light propeller-driven aircraft in Metro Denver.

And there is further momentum to move Colorado’s new energy economy forward with the state’s renewable portfolio standard of 30 percent as well as creation of the state’s first-ever Climate Action Plan. Complimenting these efforts is Greenprint Denver, a comprehensive sustainability initiative, and the Colorado Energy Coalition, which is working to advance Colorado’s diverse energy.

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Executive Summary: Energy/Clean Technology Industries

Basic Information
2010 Industry Jobs	26,201
2020 Industry Jobs	30,572
Total Change	4,371
Total % Change	16.69%
Current Average Earnings per Worker	$94,571

Economic Indicators
2010 Location Quotient	1.61
2020 Location Quotient	1.52
Shift Share: Regional Competitiveness Effect	-2,532
Shift Share: Industrial Mix Effect	3,498
Shift Share: National Effect	3,405

Industry Change Summary

Description	2010 Jobs	2020 Jobs	Change	% Change	Current EPW
Regional Total	26,201	30,572	4,371	17%	$94,571
State Total	162,054	177,502	15,448	10%	$85,291
National Total	6,386,322	7,614,625	1,228,303	19%	$82,241