There’s oil in the green movement

This Web only Speakout has not been edited.

Shannon Coe

Friday, April 4, 2008

Who would have thought oil would seep its way into our green backyard? ConocoPhillips’ purchase of former StorageTek campus in Louisville, Colorado is proving to be one of the more dramatic changes in our green community. The Houston-based company will tear down most of the building on the 432-acre campus to build a global training center and global technology center, which will teach employees from more than 40 countries. The purchase of $58.5 million in January was from Sun Microsystems who is currently leasing the campus until the end of 2008 when development will begin for ConocoPhillips. ConocoPhillips is the powerhouse that will put Colorado in the lead for alternative renewable energy sources with the development of the new training campus in Louisville that will have a high economic impact. ConocoPhillips is a great addition to the area.

ConocoPhillips will strengthen and invest in the Louisville community. This is a positive impact and it will have a large economic effect on the community. Louisville was founded in 1882 and has roughly 19,000 residents. It was ranked number three on Money magazine’s list of 100 best places to live last year and was number one in the book “Best Places to Raise Your Family: the Top 100 Affordable Communities in the U.S.” in 2006. ConocoPhillips has a large portfolio of assets and is a well-established global company, $194.5 billion in revenue in 2007. The original Conoco, continental Oil Company, located its headquarters in Denver in the 1870’s. ConocoPhillips has 600 employees currently in Colorado. It has a large gas line storage terminal in Commerce City, oil and gas production in Garfield County and a gas pipeline from Colorado to Texas. The number of permanent employees is not known, but the training facility will attract thousands of ConocoPhillips employees annually. The estimated number of permanent jobs is 10,000 that will create another 18,000; this will contribute $1.7 billion a year to the Louisville economy.

This economic boost is just what the market calls for. As the development of the Louisville Campus will help aid Colorado’s real estate in a devastating time of need. CB Richard Ellis, the potential developer, estimates construction on over 4.7 million square feet of building on the campus. The construction of the new campus is larger than Microsoft’s Redmond, Washington campus and is expected to be complete in 2012. The original campus was developed in the 1970-80’s by StorageTek, which was purchased by Sun Microsystems in 2005. Sun Microsystems is currently using a consolidated operation at nearby location, which consists of nine buildings with 700 employees. This will increase investment in our community.

The energy giant ConocoPhillips is committed to contribute to renewable energy and carbon-fuel recovery. ConocoPhillips renewable energy investment in 2007 was $150 million dollars. ConocoPhillips is using this location in Louisville for research and development for renewable energy. Fear-driven environmentalists are scared this will be a center for toxic waste. It will not only foster sharing of knowledge, innovation, and creativity, but it will certainly provide flexibility and alternatives for the ever-changing energy market.

ConocoPhillips’ move will establish Colorado as leading state for renewable energy. It will aid to further legislation as to require energy alternatives. The Louisville campus will support Colorado’s $7 million dollar clean energy fund. Governor Bill Ritter stated at a new conference announcing the deal, “The company recognizes that fossil fuels will be a part of our energy future for decades to come. They are building a bridge to the future by investing in new, cleaner technologies and in renewable energy.” It will develop further alternatives of solar and wind power, clean diesel fuel and hydrogen fuel cells energies, which will only increase Colorado’s status as a clean-energy center.

ConocoPhillips will develop the Louisville economy and provide significant advances in alternative energies. Environmentalists, businesses, lawmakers, and residents alike will be pleased with the changes big oil-tycoons, such as ConocoPhillips has made with their advanced efforts in the Green Movement. Check it out Greenies, oil is in the cause!

Shannon Coe is a resident of Boulder.

• April 5, 2008

  9:15 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  greenleaf writes:

  Shannon,

  It all sounds good, I am a born skeptic, but I wish the endeavour well. I have to say that it is in their enlightened self interest too. These big corporations don't make these sea-changes of direction on a whim. I think they see the end of big-oil coming and are following the money to alternative energy technologies. I know that's what I would do!