Colorado Clean Energy Adds 6,700 Jobs to Rural Communities

Small towns across Colorado's Eastern Plains are experiencing an economic transformation thanks to an unexpected source: wind turbines and solar farms sprouting up across the flat landscape.

Clean energy jobs in rural Eastern Plains counties surged from 4,316 in 2010 to 6,715 in 2024, creating some of the highest-paying positions in communities where good jobs can be scarce. These aren't temporary gigs either. Utility jobs in the clean energy sector rank as the second-highest-paying category across eastern counties.

"Clean energy jobs here went from almost nothing in 2010 to dozens of good-paying positions today, and that kind of growth matters in a county our size," said Troy McCue, executive director of Lincoln County Economic Development Corporation. "This industry is helping us diversify our local economy in a way that benefits everyone, not just the energy sector."

The growth story spans 21 Eastern Plains counties, from Weld to Las Animas, where 74 clean energy generators now operate. Since 2010, these communities added 6,367 megawatts of renewable energy, compared to just 475 megawatts from traditional sources. That's more than 13 times the growth from fossil fuels.

A new report from the Colorado Solar and Storage Association shows the ripples extend far beyond construction crews and maintenance workers. The 7,836 clean energy jobs statewide create $3.5 billion in direct economic impact, plus another $2.8 billion in indirect and induced benefits as workers spend their paychecks locally.

The growth continues despite recent federal policy shifts favoring fossil fuels. Industry projections show another 3,594 clean energy jobs arriving statewide over the next decade, with 961 of those landing in Eastern Plains communities. That means an additional $1.7 billion boost to the state economy.

The Ripple Effect

The transformation showcases how rural communities can thrive by embracing new industries without abandoning their roots. Many Eastern Plains counties built their economies on agriculture and traditional energy. Now they're adding clean energy to the mix rather than replacing what came before.

Take Weld County, which benefits from both fracking operations in the Denver-Julesburg basin and a growing renewable energy sector. Or consider Molson Coors, which is building a solar array atop a former coal mine near Keenesburg. When connected in 2026, the array will offset 7% of the energy used at the company's Golden campus. Old energy sites literally become new energy solutions.

The construction and maintenance jobs pay better than most other fields available in these rural areas, giving young people a reason to stay close to home rather than moving to cities for opportunities. Transmission line construction offers another growth avenue as the state works toward its goal of 80% renewable power generation by 2030.

These communities are proving that economic progress and environmental progress can walk hand in hand across the plains.