Cleantech Takes Center Stage in Metro Denver’s Sixth Annual Resource Rich Colorado Report

DENVER - Dec. 19, 2014 - PRLog -- The Colorado Energy Coalition (CEC) (http://www.metrodenver.org/cec), an industry affiliate of the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation (Metro Denver EDC), has released its annual study highlighting Colorado’s competitiveness in the oil, natural gas, coal, renewables, power, and environment and sustainability sectors of the energy industry.

“The Metro Denver EDC’s report validates what we’ve been seeing within the industry for the last few years and reinforces that cleantech is a growth sector for the state,” said Chris Shapard, executive director at the Colorado Cleantech Industries Association. “We applaud the Metro Denver EDC for their work on this publication and their focus on cleantech. Their economic development efforts to support Colorado’s cleantech sector are second to none and we are extremely pleased to be their partner in growing Colorado’s cleantech industry.”

Cleantech report highlights include:

·       Colorado is a national leader in renewable energy installed capacity, ranking seventh in installed solar and 10^th in installed wind.

·       The state is a prominent player in energy innovation, ranking third in per-capita venture capital investments.

·       In 2014 the state adopted the nation’s first ever air-quality regulations for oil and gas operators.

·       About 2,020 cleantech companies operated in Colorado in 2014, rising 5.3 percent over the prior year.

·       Colorado ranked sixth in the nation for cleantech industry employment concentration in 2014. Directly employing 23,410 people, employment rose by 5.3 percent over the previous year, with 1,170 new positions added. Five-year employment growth of 29.1 percent was nearly double the U.S. growth rate.

The cleantech subcluster includes companies that produce and conserve energy using wind, solar, biomass, fuel cells, hydroelectric resources, and green transportation technologies. Companies that manufacture renewable energy equipment, storage, and power transformers, and businesses that provide engineering and other support services are also included. The subcluster includes energy research companies that provide laboratory testing, scientific and technical consulting services, and related institutional research.

In addition, Colorado is a world-class hub for energy research and technology innovation. The state’s 30 federal laboratories—one of the highest per-capita concentrations of federal research facilities in the nation—support the state’s energy research platform. These laboratories employ over 15,680 direct and indirect workers and generate over $2.3 billion annual economic impact to Colorado.

   About Colorado Cleantech Industries Association (CCIA)
Founded in 2008, CCIA is a statewide, industry-led, industry-focused organization dedicated to promoting Colorado’s cleantech industry. CCIA impacts Colorado’s policies, people, products and programs that drive expansion of a cleaner, cheaper, more efficient and secure energy economy. Through advocacy, public policy leadership, development and education, CCIA works to ensure that Colorado is a global cleantech leader. For more information, visit http://www.coloradocleantech.com (http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=ht...).

About the Colorado Energy Coalition
Formed in 2006, the Colorado Energy Coalition (CEC) is an industry affiliate of the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation. The CEC's Competitive Analysis Committee conducts research on Colorado's competitive position in energy in the national and global energy economies, results of which are published in the annual Resource Rich Colorado report. To learn more, see http://www.metrodenver.org/cec (http://metrodenver.org/about/affiliates/colorado-energy-c...)