The net economic benefit of the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to Colorado's economy was $814.8 million in fiscal year 2012, according to a study by the University of Colorado's Leeds School of Business.
Jefferson County, where NREL's main campus is located and where half of NREL's employees live, enjoyed the greatest economic impact, with $274.6 million. NREL is one of Jefferson County's largest employers, the study says.
NREL's economic impact in Colorado fell 2.4 percent from FY 2011, reflecting fewer dollars spent renting office buildings as NREL consolidated operations on its main campus; fewer dollars spent on subcontracts and employees; and a small decline in expenditures. Still, NREL's total economic impact to Colorado in FY 2012 is 38.5 percent higher than the $588.3 million impact in FY 2009. The laboratory supported approximately 2,300 jobs in 2012.
Construction expenditures at the NREL campus in FY 2012 increased 7.4 percent from FY 2011, totaling $113 million. NREL completed construction work on the last phase of its Research Support Facility, which houses more than 1,300 employees and is one of the world's most energy efficient large office buildings, demonstrating the capability to produce as much energy as it uses on an annual basis. In FY 2012, NREL also completed an 1,800-car-capacity parking garage, with solar panels on the roof; and the Energy Systems Integration Facility, where utilities and other companies test the effect of increased renewable energy on the electric grid.
In 2013, the Laboratory will conclude a multi-year expansion of the South Table Mountain campus, which will provide new research capabilities needed to help meet the nation's clean energy challenges.
According to the study, operating and capital expenditures showed a small decline in FY 2012 by 1.6 percent to $405.5 million, compared to FY 2011. Of the $63.7 million in operating expend
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| Contact: David Glickson david.glickson@nrel.gov 303-275-4097 DOE/National Renewable Energy Laboratory Source:Eurekalert |
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