There appears to be a green lining to Colorado’s current
economic situation. The American Solar Energy Society recently
released a report that documents $10 billion and 91,000 new jobs in
2007, all as a result of the state’s “new energy
economy.” The report goes on to note that Colorado could
boast 613,000 “green” collar jobs by 2030.
“This report is further proof that the sun is shining on
green jobs in Colorado and across the country,” said Keith
Hay, energy advocate at Environment Colorado. “We need to
repower America and reboot our economy on a sound foundation of
clean energy.”
Sectors leading the new energy economy include wind, solar
thermal, solar photovoltaics, fuel cells, biofuel, research and
developments, recycling, energy efficiency and green building.
Interestingly, the report found that there are currently 70 percent
more green jobs than oil and gas jobs in Colorado.
However, Republicans in the Colorado Senate disputed the
report’s findings. Assistant Republican leader Greg Brophy
commented that it “doesn’t pass the laugh test,”
alleging that the numbers had been inflated. “I’m
really happy that the green-energy industry is growing in
Colorado,” he said. “I just think we ought to tell the
truth about the size of it.”
– Will Sands
