With growing economy, freight rail essential to Colorado

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper recently spoke on the importance of the wind-power industry in the state during a press conference at the Vestas wind turbine component factory near Denver.

“In 2015, Colorado ranked fifth in the nation for wind-power capacity additions,” he said. “An investment in the wind-power industry and in wind projects generates new jobs, economic development in rural counties and clean-air benefits to all Coloradans.”

Just as essential to the state’s economic development is the freight-rail industry. America’s freight railroads are not strangers to supporting the people of Colorado. More than 2,500 railroad employees in the state earn more than…