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Energy industry fueling job growth in the Metro Denver region
Several companies in the energy industry have recently announced expansion or relocation to Metro Denver and Northern Colorado:
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 Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc.
, a developer of state-of-the-art, thin film photovoltaic modules, announced in February 2008 its purchase of a large-scale manufacturing facility in Thornton. The site will house the company's new world headquarters and planned commercial manufacturing operations, creating 300 jobs.
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Berry Petroleum announced on March 28, 2008 that it will relocate its corporate headquarters to Denver from Bakersfield, CA. Company officials say the move is the result of increased activity in the Rockies and the fact that Denver is a recognized center for energy companies.
- Houston-based
ConocoPhillips, the country's third-largest energy company and number five on Fortune magazine's top 500 companies list, announced plans in February 2008 to establish a new Global Technology Center specializing in research and development in new energy sources and a Corporate Learning Center at the 432-acre former Storage Technology campus in Louisville.
Renewable Energy Systems Americas, Inc., one of the country's leading wind farm developers, announced plans in March 2008 to move its corporate headquarters from Austin, TX to Broomfield. The company will relocate 70 jobs from Texas in addition to making 70 local hires.
Woodward Governor of Fort Collins plans to add up to 100 new high-paying jobs at a new production line in Northern Colorado for its wind turbine inverter business. Inverters convert a wind turbine's output into electrical power compatible for the grid.
Read more:
» Site Selection Center on metrodenver.org
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Region ranks high among the 40
global 'megas'
The Metro Denver region received high accolades in a recently released book, Who's Your City, by Richard Florida.
"Denver, Boulder, and the surroundging region have developed a well-deserved reputation as one of the nation's very best places to live," said Florida, who studies and writes about economic competitiveness, demographic trends, and cultural and technological innovation.
Who's Your City provides the first-ever rankings of cities by life-stage, rating the best places for singles, young families, and empty-nesters. The book is a guide for the more than 40 million Americans of who move each year on how to choose where to live, and what those choices mean for their lives, happiness, and communities.
Denver ranked in the top 10 for young professionals and Boulder ranked in the top 5 smaller regions for single college grads, young professionals, families with children, and empty-nesters in rankings compiled by Florida.
Florida points to many other factors contributing to Metro Denver's consistent high marks, also noting that "The quality of an area's civic and business leadership is important as well. Denver does well in all three, but the community is off the chart on leadership."
Read more:
» Denver grabs lofty rank in global economy
- Speakout by Richard Florida in the Rocky Mountain News
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Exports decline slightly after previous all-time high
Colorado's exports of manufactured, agricultural, and mineral products declined slightly to $7.35 billion in 2007, down from a record high of $7.96 billion in 2006.
Electronic integrated circuits, the state's top export category, fell 36.7 percent and automatic data processing machines dropped 45.5 percent. Excluding these two traditionally volatile export sectors, Colorado's merchandise exports demonstrated growth of 5.2 percent in 2007 versus the previous year, led by increased exports of print machines, medical devices, molybdenum ores, and animal products.
Canada retained its position as Colorado's top export market, although exports fell 7.6 percent to $1.77 billion. The state's other top-five trading partners include Mexico, China, Japan, Taiwan, and Germany.
Read more:
» International Trade section on metrodenver.org
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