We excel at cleantech, and it shows

Business Climate

Fifty-seven pieces of cleantech legislation passed in Colorado between 2007 and 2010.

Colorado has the nation's second-highest Renewable Portfolio Standard mandating that a minimum of 30 percent of the state's electricity come from renewable sources by 2020.

Colorado is in the top-five among clean-energy leadership states.
- Clean Edge, 2011

Colorado ranked as the nation’s fifth-most sustainable state.
- Site Selection magazine, 2011 “Green Guide"

Colorado is the fourth-best state for clean energy.
- Clean Edge, 2010

Colorado ranks No. 5 in the U.S. for cleantech venture capital (2006–2008).
- Clean Edge, 2010

Denver is the U.S.'s seventh “greenest” city.
- The Business Courier of Cincinnati, 2010 “Green Cities Index”

The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden is the nation's primary laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency R&D.
- U.S. Department of Energy

Former Colorado Governor Bill Ritter was named the “greenest” governor in the U.S.
- Greenopia, 2009

The City and County of Denver's Greenprint Denver is a national model for energy conservation and clean-energy technology.
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 2009

Workforce

Colorado is home to more than 1,600 companies involved in the clean-technology market, and those companies currently employ more than 19,000 Coloradans.

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.

Colorado ranks fourth in the U.S. for renewable energy and energy research employment concentration.
- Development Research Partners, 2011

Colorado ranks third in tech-worker concentration.
- TechAmerica, 2010

Colorado is the fifth-most significant state with regard to clean technology investment and job creation.
- Pew Charitable Trust report, 2009 “The Clean Energy Economy”

Colorado has two of the world’s top 10 cleantech companies – Vestas and SunRun.
- Clean Edge, 2009

Infrastructure

Colorado is the fifth-highest ranking state in the nation with 241 Energy Star schools.
- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2011

Xcel Energy is the No. 1 wind power provider in the nation.
- American Wind Energy Association, 2010

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL) new Research Support Facility is one of the "greenest" buildings ever constructed.
- NREL, 2010

Denver ranks No. 4 in the U.S. for Energy Star buildings.
- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2010

Education

Five Colorado institutions of higher learning are among the top green colleges in the nation.
- The Princeton Review, "2010–2011 Guide to 286 Green Colleges"

Colorado State University is ranked in the top four nationallay for solar power at major public research universities.
- Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, 2011

CU Boulder is the United State's No. 6 university for cleantech.
- Sustainable World Capital for Cleantech.com, 2010

For additional rankings on the region's business climate, workforce, infrastructure, and education visit www.metrodenver.org.

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