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Energy

Accelerate Colorado advocates for federal policies that aid in new technology development and advancement, business development and optimal cultivation of resources for the state’s energy industries.

Colorado has substantial fossil fuel resources, including several fossil fuel-rich basins, significant coal deposits, and some of the largest natural gas fields in the nation. The majority of drilling activity is concentrated along the Western Slope of the Rocky Mountains and in Weld County, while many fossil fuel companies conduct business operations from the Metro Denver region. Colorado’s active wells totaled over 43,170 as of December 2010, with 55 percent of total active wells in Weld and Garfield Counties.

Colorado ranks fourth in the nation for its 2010 concentration of cleantech employment with 19,420 employees at approximately 1,600 companies.  The 2009 average salary for a renewable energy and energy research worker was $75,240 ($70,690 nationwide).  In fact, renewable energy employment grew 32.7 percent in the state from 2005 to 2010; the national growth for the same period was 10.0 percent.  Source: Metro Denver EDC Colorado Energy Cluster Study

Accelerate Colorado's 2011 Energy Asks

  • Accelerate Colorado supports the development of a comprehensive long-term energy strategy for the nation which realistically addresses our demand for energy, with clear policies that thoughtfully reflect the full range of energy resources and production.
  • Accelerate Colorado supports the federal government promoting organizations, facilities, projects and public private partnerships that are specifically designed for the advancement of promising energy technologies, from the lab into the field, to prove production at scale, long-term reliability and management of life-cycle costs.  Continue strong delegation support and full funding for the campus build out planned for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, CO.
  • Please continue to provide NREL with the federal funding it requires to meet its ambitious agenda and especially for the Energy Systems Integration Facility (ESIF). 

For a full description of Accelerate Colorado's Energy Asks and Background, please click on the full report in the Download section.