Panel: Colo. leading the way in renewable energy jobs

Mar 11 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Tony Kindelspire Daily Times-Call, Longmont, Colo.

It has taken a while for the United States to catch up to the rest of the Western world in renewable energy production, but that's changing -- and Colorado is leading the way, a group of panelists said Thursday morning.

"We recognize that Colorado is known for innovation and research, and we really need to lead with that innovation card," Chris Shapard, executive director of the Colorado Cleantech Industry Association, told a crowd of about 200 people at the Longmont Area Economic Council's 12th annual Investor Series Breakfast.

Shapard said her group did an analysis last year of Colorado's strengths and challenges in renewable energy, and four areas jumped to the forefront: wind, solar, smart-grid and "bio-derived" technology -- so named because there are companies in Colorado working in the "bio" industry doing more than just developing fuels.

Nick Lenson, a senior specialist with wind turbine manufacturer Vestas, said the Danish company chose to open its first North American manufacturing operations in Colorado for four main reasons: the transportation network, with easy access to both rail and interstate highways; the highly skilled work force; the Front Range's reputation as a high-tech research and development hub; and the state's favorable attitude toward renewables.

Lenson said his company took note in 2004 when Colorado voters approved Amendment 37, which set specific targets the state is required to meet for getting a percentage of its energy from renewable resources.

"We did receive incentives from other states that were much larger in order to get us to locate there," Lenson said.

Today, Vestas employs thousands of people at its plants in Windsor, Brighton and Pueblo.

Richard Adams, the manager of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, said the organization's new Center for Renewable Energy and Economic Development is soon coming online, which should serve to further grow the renewable energy job base in Colorado.

"We are going to make this a national center of attention, but at the end of the day it's really going to be focused on the state of Colorado," he said.

Tony Kindelspire can be reached at 303-684-5291 or tkindelspire@times-call.com.