Compelling Opportunities

Abundant Resources: Our wide open spaces, water, public lands, forests, high elevations and general topography support the renewable energy sectors. These advantages have attracted renewable energy developer Ameresco, which is building a 4-megawatt regional solar array and rPlus Hydro, which is developing a $1.5 billion pumped hydropower storage site.

Existing infrastructure: Existing power plants transitioning to renewable energy provide strategic conversion possibilities for applications such as biomass and solar. Additionally, two high-capacity transmission lines under construction in the northwestern part of our region will deliver renewable energy to Nevada and California.

Highly transferable skills from a workforce committed to stay and succeed: The coal transition will make 2,800+ skilled workers available to incoming industries, a major advantage in both scale and skill. These workers’ industrial and construction skills are highly transferable. Equally important, they are dedicated to this region and want to stay in the area and succeed. That’s a significant—and singular—advantage.

Class I rail access: Union Pacific Class I service connects Craig in Moffat County, Hayden, Oak Creek, Steamboat Spring and Yampa in Routt County to the Denver market and beyond. Via rail spurs proximate to the Craig Station and Trapper Mine and Hayden Station, companies can access affordable and reliable transportation.

High-impact incentives:  Competitive federal, state and local incentives lower initial development costs, support more rapid return on investment as well as long-term profitability. See more here.

A region moving forward: In a state that is pursuing net zero carbon goals, Northwest Colorado is moving forward in important ways, including utility zoning updates and solar construction such as the 4-megawatt regional solar array in Craig. The Yampa Valley Electric Association has set ambitious goals: a locally-generated renewable energy contribution up to 15% of load, and the development of 90,000 megawatt hours of new local renewable energy projects within the next five years. Another important milestone: both Tri-State Generation and Xcel Energy are adopting transition plans to move away from coal-powered energy generation to renewable energy.

Comprehensive support: Driving the transition to renewable energy is a coalition of partners, including Northwest Colorado Development Council (NWCDC), Colorado Office of Just Transition, Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, Colorado Department of Local Affair, higher education partners, nonprofits such as Yampa Valley Sustainability Council, along with industry partners, such as the Cleanrange Consortium. 

As a regional organization, the NWCDC serves as a coordinator and catalyst helping drive economic development. On a local level many northwestern Colorado communities and organizations are already transitioning to renewable energy.

• Town of Rangely is planning to retrofit public buildings with solar and geothermal cogeneration. 
• Moffat County is supporting a closed-loop hydroelectric project.
• Craig is supporting solar power.
• Town of Hayden is adding geothermal power to its new industrial park.
• Routt County has adopted the  Routt County Climate Action Plan, led by Yampa Valley Sustainable Council

Prime opportunities: Opportunities include biomass energy generation, solar, hydro, geothermal power generation as well as alternative uses for coal.

Other nurturing advantages:

Established education pipeline and partnerships: The region’s ag talent pipeline is supported by a range of collaborative training and development partners, including Northwest Colorado Development Council (NWCDC), Colorado State University (CSU), Colorado Northwestern Community College (CNCC) and K-12 schools. This region is growing an agriculture workforce from the ground up with agriculture programs at the K-12 levels and at CNCC, including agriculture, agribusiness and animal science degrees.

We’re also assuring the future through established relationships and critical collaborations that include the United States Department of Agriculture and the Community Agriculture Alliance (CAA). Regional collaborations bring new ideas and innovations, as exemplified by a recent feasibility study developed in partnership with NWCDC, CAA, CSU Extension and the Just Transition Fund, a national philanthropic funder for coal transition communities.

Another example of successful collaboration: In 2022, Deborah Fitch, a Craig rancher and owner of Fitch Ranch Artisan Meat Company, purchased a legacy USDA-inspected meat processing plant in Craig – one of only two USDA facilities in northwestern Colorado. The feedback and insight she gained that year from the NWCDC agriculture focus groups reinforced her determination to expand her meat processing operation. In 2023, NWCDC began working with the company as it planned the construction of a new 40,000 SF, USDA-inspected meat processing facility adjacent to the current plant. The NWCDC created a core support team and provided critical and ongoing assistance in the complicated application process for a USDA Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion (MPPEP) grant, which included developing a business plan, a pro forma, and a feasibility plan.

Entrepreneurial and cooperative approaches that yield results: In a region that encourages fresh ideas, collaboration is the name of the game. Community Ag Alliance (CAA) is a nonprofit that fosters partnerships to support the agricultural sector. CAA operates a retail store in Steamboat Springs to provide fresh local foods while creating more direct sales to consumers for local farmers and ranchers. Learn more.

Specialized, empowering support: This includes specialized and dedicated loan support from the USDA Rural Development team, headquartered at the Craig USDA Rural Development Office.

Outdoor Recreation Manufacturing Cluster: Renowned for its magnificent outdoor settings and recreation, Northwest Colorado has nurtured and grown numerous outdoor recreation manufacturers. Our ecosystem drives innovation, supporting companies such as:

• Big Agnes, maker sustainable outdoor rec products through sustainable manufacturing processes;
• Honey Stinger, manufacturer of nutritional products that support high-performance athletics and activities;
• Good Vibes, manufacturer of a wide-ranging line of outdoor gear, apparel, accessories;
• Headhunter Bow Strings, founded in Meeker in 1991 and is now the world’s largest manufacturer of bow strings. This level of quality and success means any new or relocating OREC enterprise can tap into the powerful brand equity of a region known for stunning outdoor beauty and a manufacturing cluster known for its sterling quality.

Explore professional and practice opportunities at:

• Memorial Regional Health in Craig
• Rangely District Hospital in Rangely
• UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center in Steamboat Springs
• Pioneers Medical Center in Meeker
• Northwest Colorado Health (Community Health Centers in Craig and Steamboat Springs and prevention services in Routt, Moffat and Rio Blanco Counties)
• South Routt Medical Center in Oak Creek