Energy Mining & Natural Resources
Industry Overview
Colorado is a leader in bringing energy resources to the marketplace with access to the abundant fossil fuel and renewable energy resources of the American West. The Rocky Mountain region is known for its majestic peaks above ground, but below ground one finds an abundance of fossil fuels, including coal and coal coke, coalbed methane, oil, oil shale, and natural gas. These rich natural reserves make the Rockies the fossil fuel production corridor of the United States.
Colorado is also a leader in renewable energies, with geothermal, wind, solar, hydroelectric and biomass power actively used throughout the state. Colorado research is contributing significantly to the development of new renewable energy technologies, including fuel cells. Additionally, Colorado is fast becoming a leader in ethanol production, with three large ethanol plants that will produce some 100 million gallons of ethanol in 2007.
Colorado's history is deeply rooted in mineral mining, especially gold. It's particularly appropriate, then, that Colorado is still a leader in mineral mining. Colorado hosts numerous mining companies' headquarters, including the Newmont Mining Corporation, which is the largest gold company in the world.
Colorado mineral production, including oil & gas, coal, and other minerals, reached a record high of $11.6 billion in 2005, a 36% increase over 2005, due to record production and high energy prices. There are more than 940 energy and mining businesses in Colorado.
Success in Colorado
Colorado's energy and mining industry is so successful because our energy companies are able to leverage the region's rich technological and natural resources. Domestic energy products that are reliable, clean, diverse and affordable are vital to our country's security and prosperity. As the world's population increases, energy demands also increase, which in turn requires new energy technologies and efficiencies, as well as new fossil fuel reserves. Colorado's natural resources, knowledge capital, and public-private research partnerships make the state an ideal location for businesses engaged in energy research, exploration and production.
Colorado's position as a technology leader also facilitates a rich energy environment. Energy businesses that locate here have access to cutting edge innovations in enabling technologies, such as biotechnology, nanotechnology and materials science, which will drive the next generation of energy technologies and products. Colorado is also home to world-class and industry-leading energy and natural resources research institutions, including the Colorado School of Mines and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. These research facilities maximize the value of fossil fuels while investing in cutting-edge research to develop sustainable renewable resources and technologies to make energy extraction more efficient and less invasive.
World Class Research
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is the U.S. Department of Energy's primary national laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. NREL develops renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies and practices, advances related science and engineering, and transfers knowledge and innovations to address the nation's energy and environmental goals.
The Colorado School of Mines (CSM), located in Golden, is a public research university that has distinguished itself by developing a curriculum and research program that is geared toward responsible stewardship of the earth and its resources. CSM is one of the top-ranked mining and engineering schools in the nation, and its 'Mining Engineering' program has been ranked #1 in the nation by the Gourman Report. CSM is also the only school in the world that offers doctoral programs in all five of the major earth science disciplines. In addition to strong education and research programs in traditional fields of science and engineering, CSM is one of a very few institutions in the world having broad expertise in resource exploration, extraction, production, and utilization. Students graduate from CSM with broad experience and education in a variety of energy disciplines, which supports a crucial pipeline of qualified labor for Colorado's energy companies. In fact, its reputation is so strong, CSM was recently selected to develop the Petroleum Institute of the United Arab Emirates.
The Colorado Energy Research Institute (CERI) is located at the Colorado School of Mines. CERI has a legislative mandate to coordinate and integrate energy-related research and education throughout the state of Colorado. While hosted at CSM, CERI is responsible for working with all of Colorado's institutions of higher learning on research initiatives and programs that advance Colorado's capabilities with respect to regional, national, and global energy industry needs.
The Governor's Office of Energy Management and Conservation (OEMC) is Colorado's lead state agency on energy efficiency issues. OEMC has grown from an agency created to respond to the energy crisis of the 1970s to one that now supports cost-effective programs, grants, and partnerships that benefit Colorado's economic and natural environment
Colorado Energy Facts
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