ConocoPhillips arrival in area ‘shot in the arm’

LOUISVILLE – ConocoPhillips Co.’s plans to open a Global Technology and Corporate Learning Center in Louisville likely will make Colorado and the Boulder Valley a leader in energy reform, local economic developers and officials say.

The Houston-based energy giant was the mystery buyer of the Storage Technology Corp. property along U.S. 36, which Sun Microsystems Inc. sold for $58.5 million on Jan. 28. ConocoPhillips hopes to have the center operational by 2012 to focus on renewable energy and high-tech carbon fuels recovery.

U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar lauded ConocoPhillips’ decision to locate its new center in Louisville.

“This reinforces Colorado’s reputation as a…