A Colorado clean technology revolution or new energy economy fantasy?

• Author: Spaanstra, Jim
• Position: GUEST [column]

The Obama administration held the nation's first Forum on Climate Change on Aug. 27, 2009, in Fort Collins. At that forum, Gov. Bill Ritter and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar engaged in somewhat tongue-and-cheek banter with California-based regulators.

The discourse centered on clean technology innovation and entrepreneurship, and whether it will propel the Front Range of Colorado to become the Rocky Mountain region's version of Silicon Valley.

From where we sit, this could actually happen.

Among his peers, Ritter has been the most vocal national proponent of the new energy economy--with the possible exception of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California. As he completes his last year in office, Ritter can point with justifiable pride to a burgeoning clean technology industry in Colorado, driven in part by his initiatives.

Recent facts and findings include:

* In June 2009, the Pew Charitable Trust report, "The Clean Energy Economy," identified Colorado as the fifth most significant state with regard to clean technology investment and job creation.

* Colorado is home to more than 700 companies involved in the clean technology market, and those companies currently employ more than 20,000 Coloradans. These companies range from household names, such as Conoco-Phillips, to others that are quickly becoming well known to Coloradans, such as Vestas Wind Systems, Ascent Solar and Solix Biofuels. In January, Bannon Automotive, a New York-based electric car company, approached Ritter's office regarding moving its corporate headquarters to Colorado, as well as locating its second plant in this state.

* Colorado is one of only five states to have initiated an industry association, the Colorado Cleantech Industry Association--focused solely on the development of clean technologies in Colorado.

That said, we have a long way to go before the "Colorado clean technology revolution" entitles us to bragging rights, even on a regional basis. Currently, California investment in the clean technology market exceeds investment in Colorado by a 10-to-1 margin. And on the world stage, investment in China in clean technology exceeds investment in Colorado by a 50-to-1 margin. While Colorado has the research, financial, natural resources and entrepreneurial assets in place to develop a sustained clean technology leadership position-- both nationally and globally--our state must redouble its focus on the critical...