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

Garfield Clean Energy: Economic Growth through Energy Efficiency, Alternative Fuels & Local Power
(GCE, 2020)

The 2020 Colorado Advanced Energy Jobs fact sheet
(Advanced Energy Economy, 2020)

Seeds of Opportunity: How Rural America Is Reaping Economic Development Benefits from the Growth of Renewables
(Rocky Mountain Institute, 2021)

Clean Jobs Colorado: Clean Energy Trends and Insights for a Post-Coronavirus Recover
(Environmental Entrepreneurs, 2020)

Economic Impact of Stimulus Investment in Advanced Energy
(Advanced Energy Economy, 2020)

Resources: Economic Transition

Economic Transition Assessment Brief
(CLEER, 2022 – DRAFT)

Coal transition in Montrose County, Colorado – Fiscal Assessment
(Headwaters Economics, 2019)

Colorado Just Transition Action Plan
(Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, 2020)

Economic Transition in Northwest Colorado: The Economic Contribution of Coal Power and Coal Mining, and the Economic Impact of Solar Power and Natural Gas Power
(Colorado Mesa University, 2020)

Economic Contribution of the Oil and Gas Industry in the Piceance Basin
(Colorado Mesa University, 2019)