The state of Colorado has become a national leader in the cleantech field, with renewable energy development at the top of its agenda. By quickly implementing key improvements in wind and solar technologies and utilizing efficiency programs such as the implementation of smart-grid technologies in their utilities, Colorado is making the state a much greener place. Further, natural gas use has a high focus, because Colorado is a major natural gas producer in the nation; and there is a big movement in Colorado, especially Denver, to revamp public transportation systems to try to reduce the amount of cars on the road and reduce pollution.
"Few states can match Colorado’s record of improvement and support in every cleantech industry effort by citizens, businesses, universities and government" says Christine Shapard, Executive Director of the Colorado Cleantech Industry Association (CCIA).
Ten highlights of Colorado’s Cleantech efforts are listed below:
- Governmental Involvement. State government in Colorado is leading the way in cleantech technology. Governor Bill Ritter was recently named as the “greenest” Governor of any state in the United States. Within the past three years, the Colorado legislature has passed at least fifty-seven pieces of cleantech legislation. The state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard mandates that a minimum of thirty percent of electricity produced will come from renewable sources by the year 2020. Just announced, the State is funding a state-wide supply chain study for the wind, solar and smart grid sectors lead by the Colorado Clean Energy Cluster and Colorado Association for Advanced Manufacturing. Further, the Colorado Department of Labor launched its Green Jobs Colorado initiative last year.
- Business Startup Help. Colorado is only one of a handful of states that have created organizations to help in the startup process for cleantech businesses. They created the Colorado Cleantech Initiative (CCI) in 2005 plus the Colorado Cleantech Industry Association CCIA and Clean Launch in 2009.
- Cleantech Companies Thriving. There are between 300 and 1,500 cleantech companies operating in the state of Colorado. An important achievement beyond the sheer numbers of cleantech companies operating within the state is the fact that two companies, Vestas and SunRun, are listed within the top-10 cleantech companies in the world.
- Venture Capital Investment. Cleantech companies have an almost impossible task of gaining a foothold without the influx of substantial venture capital. Colorado ranks within the top three states in the United States in providing venture capital investment for cleantech companies.
- Business Cluster Development. The impact of cleantech business development that is strongly supported by government and investment is the clustering of cleantech companies in specific areas. In Colorado, you will find clusters of companies working in the wind technology field. Other clusters are developing in the solar, smart grid and efficiency fields as well For instance, the State just provided funding for the Center for Smart Grid Advancement (CSGA), led by Spirae. The center will provide the infrastructure and education necessary to address the numerous technical, regulatory, economic and operational issues that must be addressed to realize the full potential of smart grids.
- Job Creation. The cleantech industry is a bright spot when it comes to the subject of putting people to work. It is estimated that the cleantech industry in Colorado employs over 18,000 people within the state. As more and more companies enter the field of cleantech technologies, these numbers are sure to continue to grow.
- Municipality Participation. Denver is the seventh “greenest” city in the United States. Greenprint Denver has become a national model highlighting how clean energy technology and energy conservation can benefit a large city.
- Research and Development. Colorado has a national footprint on the leading edge of cleantech technology. The state has the largest laboratory that strictly encompasses all facets of cleantech research and development in the entire United States. The laboratory is called the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The laboratory’s new Research Support Facility is considered one of the “greenest” buildings ever built.
- University Leadership. The University of Colorado at Boulder is ranked 6th among universities in the United States in cleantech technologies research and development. Colorado State University just unveiled the Center for the Clean Energy Economy to be run by former Governor Bill Ritter. Other Colorado universities such as Colorado State University and the Colorado School of Mines are also designated leaders in the fields of renewable energy and research and development. It is easy to see why cleantech is greatly expanding in the state of Colorado when cities, governments, and businesses have such great resources to draw upon.
- Cleantech Projects in Action. A project is being developed by Constellation Energy and Oak Leaf Energy Partners to develop a solar installation that will produce 4.4 megawatts of solar power for Denver International Airport (DIA). The installation will be the largest installation built on the site of a customer that the state has seen to date. In addition, in Fort Collins, the FortZED (Zero Energy District) continues to gain momentum. FortZED is the recipient of two major DOE grants.
From all the highlights listed above, you can see that cleantech is much more than just a dream or wish in Colorado. Cleantech technologies are being researched, developed, and implemented within the state. It helps cleantech efforts tremendously to have such great government support and backing. Venture capital investment brings in even more companies willing to invest in cleantech efforts. Finally, utilizing the best and brightest talent in the country in universities keyed to provide major breakthroughs in cleantech technologies cannot help but strengthen Colorado’s leading position in the future.
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