According to the latest Resource Rich Colorado report, organizations throughout the energy industry have weathered varying levels of uncertainty—from ballot measures focused on oil and gas development
to policy changes that could impact funding of renewables.
But despite that, Colorado’s resources, from coal to solar, have made strides in the past year and nearly all claim spots among the top-10 producing states.
What makes Colorado stand out, says one energy CEO, is our “enlightened leadership.” In fact, Colorado ranks fourth in the country for cleantech leadership. For RES Americas CEO Glen Davis, it comes down to support from state and local governments, buy-in from utilities and an abundance of resources.
RES Americas is focused on a wide array of renewable energies, including wind, solar and battery technology, as well as the construction of these energy projects. During their last fiscal year they completed 14 projects in North America. In Colorado, the company developed and constructed the $535 million Cedar Point Wind Energy Project in Limon. Today it powers 80,000 homes, offsetting 783,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually and providing Lincoln County with nearly $7 million in tax revenue.
And, like much of the rest of the industry, Davis says the biggest opportunity is to ensure consistent policies and regulation.
“Most important is to remain committed to the policies that have supported the renewable industry to date, driven by a recognition that renewables mean jobs and economic growth for Coloradans,” he said.
As the company looks forward, they’re excited about the growth of public and private investment, the potential growth for wind and solar and the emergence of batteries as storage for energy.
Want to read more about the state of our energy industry?
Click here to view the full Resource Rich Colorado report.
Sara Crocker is the communications manager for the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce.
