Clean energy jobs grow twice as fast in Colorado

DENVER – Jobs in Colorado’s clean energy economy grew more than twice as fast as overall jobs between 1998 and 2007, according to a report by The Pew Charitable Trusts. The study looked at the actual jobs, companies and venture capital investments that supply market demand for environmentally friendly products and services in all 50 states.

Pew’s analysis found that between 1998 and 2007, jobs in Colorado’s clean energy economy grew at a rate of 18.2 percent, while overall jobs in the state grew by 8.2 percent. Nationally, jobs in the clean energy sector grew at a rate of 9.1 percent while jobs overall grew by only 3.7 percent. The clean energy economy outperformed overall job growth in 38 states and the District of Columbia over the same period.

In 2007, there were more than 17,000 clean energy jobs in Colorado, according to the study. Pew says its numbers are a hard count of actual jobs, businesses and investments and do not rely on estimates, multipliers or projections.

SPONSORED CONTENT

Empowering communities

Rocky Mountain Health Plans (RMHP), part of the UnitedHealthcare family, has pledged its commitment to uplift these communities through substantial investments in organizations addressing the distinct needs of our communities.

“A clean energy economy generates jobs, businesses and investments while expanding clean energy production, increasing energy efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, waste and pollution, and conserving water and other natural resources,” according to the report.

It breaks clean energy jobs into five categories: clean energy; energy efficiency; environmentally friendly production; conservation and pollution mitigation; and training and support. Included are jobs as diverse as engineers, plumbers, administrative assistants, construction workers, machine setters, marketing consultants, teachers and many others with annual incomes ranging from $21,000 to $111,000.

Venture capital investment in clean technology in Colorado totaled more than $620 million over the past three years — the fifth-largest amount in the nation — three-quarters of which has been invested in clean energy generation.

“I am very proud that Pew Charitable Trust is confirming our vision to transform Colorado into a national and international leader on new energy,´ said Gov. Bill Ritter in a statement releasing the findings. “We have been extremely deliberate about rebuilding our state’s economy and converting it to a sustainable and knowledge-based one.”

Colorado’s clean energy economy will also receive a boost from the recently enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which allocates nearly $85 billion nationwide in direct spending and tax incentives for energy- and transportation-related programs.

“Abound Solar is proud to be part of Colorado’s clean energy economy,´ said Russell Kanjorski, marketing vice president for Abound Solar, which recently began commercial production in Longmont. “In less than 30 months, we have taken a technology from the labs at Colorado State University, hired 200 employees, and built a world-class manufacturing facility that will reduce the cost of clean, renewable energy.”

Colorado provides financial incentives for clean energy and has created both a renewable portfolio standard and an energy efficiency resource standard. The complete study is available online at www.pewtrusts.org/cleanenergyeconomy.