Reaching Colorado’s clean energy targets presents economic opportunities as well as challenges. Our region can harness the opportunities by accelerating local clean energy development, maximizing resource efficiency, growing local capacity, expertise, skills and businesses, and advancing clean transportation.

At the same time, we must anticipate the challenges of transitioning to 100% renewable energy. Property and severance taxes and federal mineral lease revenues help support multiple local governments and public services, such as schools, fire and hospital districts. The Western Slope’s economy has jobs, tax revenues and businesses connected to gas, oil and coal-related industries.

Transitioning to 100% renewable energy requires finding ways to replace these funding sources and jobs as they are impacted over time, while at the same time taking a leadership role in harnessing the economic opportunities.

Resources: Jobs and economic development potential from clean energy

Resources: Economic Transition