Jefferson County is home to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Colorado School of Mines, and with those great intellectual resources in our own backyard, we should be the epicenter of the Renewable Energy industry in the United States.
We should be, but we are not.
Renewable energy companies are not only good for our country and our planet, they are also businesses that provide fantastic jobs. As The Denver Post reported on Thursday:
A wind-energy company has moved its headquarters from Austin, Texas, to Broomfield, with plans to hire 70 workers locally over the next year.
In addition to the new jobs, Renewable Energy Systems Americas, or RES-Americas, said Wednesday it will relocate 70 full-time jobs from Texas. The jobs on average are expected to pay $110,000 by 2011, according to a tax-rebate agreement approved by the Broomfield City Council last month.
"Colorado has demonstrated immense leadership in the development of renewable resources and alternative energy," said Craig Mataczynski, president of RES-Americas, in a statement. "We are proud to now join that effort."
RES-Americas said it has projects in six states and Canada, including the Cedar Point Wind Project in Elbert and Lincoln counties in Colorado.
The Cedar Point wind farm is expected to begin construction at the end of this year or early 2009, with completion set for 2010.
The Broomfield headquarters opened Monday.
"RES-Americas is another tremendous example of how Colorado is being recognized as a national and international leader in renewable, modern energy," Gov. Bill Ritter said.
Colorado is being recognized as a leader in renewable energy, and there's absolutely no reason that Jefferson County can't play a major role in that effort. But to do so is going to take committed leadership at the county level, and as a County Commissioner I'll make it a priority to convince these companies - and their high-paying jobs - to relocate to Jeffco. With NREL and the School of Mines in our own backyard, we have great selling points when it comes to the research and intellectual support that these businesses need.
We have what these companies are looking for, but it takes leadership at the county level to bring them here. I'll provide that leadership.
