Clean Edge Report Shows that Colorado Cleantech Industry Shines but has Room for Growth

GOLDEN, Colo. - Oct. 6, 2015 - PRLog -- Colorado Cleantech Industries Association, together with partners at Clean Edge and the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies today released The Colorado Clean Tech Landscape report. The report, authored by Clean Edge and sponsored by Chubb, highlights Colorado’s leadership across the cleantech landscape but points to significant opportunities for advancement. The report is available for download at www.cleanedge.com/reports and at www.coloradocleantech.com.

In recent years, Colorado has been one of the top states in the country in the clean technology sector. It ranked fifth in the nation in Clean Edge’s Clean Tech Leadership Index from the Index’s inception in 2010 through the 2013 edition; in 2014, it jumped to fourth, where it remains today. Colorado is a recognized leader in advanced technology deployment, including utility-scale wind and solar power, electric vehicles, and green buildings. It is also a leader in cleantech innovation and investment, and has a steadily improving policy environment underpinning these successes. But there is room for improvement.

“Since we started the U.S. Clean Tech Leadership Index, Colorado has placed in the top ten of our Technology and Capital category rankings, and has recently moved into the top 10 in our Policy category,” said Clean Edge managing director Ron Pernick. “The state is well positioned to set the tone for the continued growth of the cleantech industry, but I would also caution that they don’t get complacent. States like Vermont, Connecticut, and Hawaii are nipping at their heels and looking to take over Colorado’s fourth place ranking.”

Colorado has been surpassed in recent years on many measures by booming markets across the country. While early leadership was partly an outcome of executive commitment in Colorado, over the last five years, other governors and key leaders across the nation have erased Colorado’s early-mover advantage. Colorado has lost ground on utility-scale wind electricity generation, the state is in danger of falling out of the top ten in the advanced vehicle adoption market and its 39^th-place ranking for smart meter deployment all point to significant opportunities for growth.

“While I’m very pleased to see that Colorado ranks high in most of the report’s categories, I am concerned with what seems to be the state’s slowdown across a broad range of metrics,” said Chris Shapard, executive director of the Colorado Cleantech Industries Association. “This report should serve as a wakeup call for all clean technology companies and organization to come together to retake Colorado’s leadership position.”

The Clean Edge report digs into the details of Colorado’s cleantech sector, illustrating where the state’s strengths and weaknesses lie. Data provided in the report highlights the state’s impressive electric productivity gains and national leadership in both LEED and Energy Star buildings market. The report also gives a nod to the hard work put in by the state’s residents and businesses, as well as strong leadership from political leaders.  While the state needs to double-down on its commitment to cleantech across the board, Colorado is well positioned to maintain its leadership status well into the future.

“Chubb is proud to have sponsored this report from Clean Edge and CCIA,” said Amy Ingram, worldwide clean tech segment manager at Chubb. “We work closely with Colorado’s cleantech industry and hope the insights shared in the Clean Edge report will have a positive impact on the growth of the cleantech industry in Colorado and beyond.”


About CCIA


Founded in 2008, 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 about CCIA, visit www.coloradocleantech.com.