RENEWABLE ENERGY PARKS: AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR PUEBLO, COLORADO

The report advocates for the creation of a 'Comanche Energy Park' in Pueblo, Colorado, to replace the retiring Comanche coal plant by 2031. This strategy involves a diversified portfolio of wind, solar, and battery storage paired with 'flexible' industrial technologies like thermal batteries and hydrogen electrolyzers. The goal is to provide a reliable, clean electricity supply while stimulating local economic growth and maintaining property tax revenues without placing the full financial burden on Xcel Energy customers.

• The proposed energy park would generate approximately $40 million annually in replacement property tax for Pueblo County and create new economic opportunities through clean industry.
• The strategy utilizes 'flexible' industrial technologies to balance the grid; thermal batteries can provide high-heat steam (up to 1700°C) for local steel and cement plants, while hydrogen electrolyzers can produce ammonia or sustainable aviation fuels.
• The total capital investment for an example energy park portfolio is estimated at $6.9 billion, but only about 25 percent (approximately $1.8 billion) would be paid by Xcel Energy's electricity customers, with the remainder covered by industrial customers and third-party investments.
• The energy park is presented as a lower-risk alternative to other proposals, such as a gas plant with carbon capture or small modular nuclear reactors, because it uses a piece-by-piece buildout of commercially available technologies.

APA

GIMON, E., & SOLOMON, M. (n.d.). RENEWABLE ENERGY PARKS: AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR PUEBLO, COLORADO. Energy Innovation. https://energyinnovation.org/wp-content/uploads/Renewable-Energy-Parks-An-Economic-Development-Strategy-for-Pueblo-Colorado-1.pdf

Chicago

GIMON, ERIC, and MICHELLE SOLOMON. RENEWABLE ENERGY PARKS: AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR PUEBLO, COLORADO. Energy Innovation, n.d. https://energyinnovation.org/wp-content/uploads/Renewable-Energy-Parks-An-Economic-Development-Strategy-for-Pueblo-Colorado-1.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=GIMON |first1=ERIC |last2=SOLOMON |first2=MICHELLE |title=RENEWABLE ENERGY PARKS: AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR PUEBLO, COLORADO |publisher=Energy Innovation |url=https://energyinnovation.org/wp-content/uploads/Renewable-Energy-Parks-An-Economic-Development-Strategy-for-Pueblo-Colorado-1.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{gimonndrenewable, author = {GIMON, ERIC and SOLOMON, MICHELLE}, title = {{RENEWABLE ENERGY PARKS: AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR PUEBLO, COLORADO}}, institution = {Energy Innovation}, url = {https://energyinnovation.org/wp-content/uploads/Renewable-Energy-Parks-An-Economic-Development-Strategy-for-Pueblo-Colorado-1.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }