A group of University of Colorado at Colorado Springs MBA students believe current tax credits and rebates can make wind power profitable for the Pikes Peak region.
A class of 35 master’s- level business students conducted a 360-degree study of regional alternative energy issues. They will release their findings at a public meeting at 4:30 p.m. May 14 in Dwire Hall 121 on the UCCS campus.
Some of the key findings are:
· Renewable energy jobs are likely to pay more than $50,000 annually.
· The greatest job growth will come from a manufacturing plant.
· A wind farm in El Paso County has the potential to generate a 17 percent annualized rate of return for investors.
“The results of the study are significant because they provide real answers to critical questions about the region’s growth prospects,” Fred Crowley, senior instructor, Business, said. “We do not have to wonder about ‘what if’ situations. We have solutions. What these students have learned can help our entire community focus its efforts to move us into the era of renewable energy.”
The students gathered comprehensive data through interviews with utilities, windmill manufacturers and other organizations. They scrutinized federal, state, and local laws, examined environmental issues and analyzed the financial impact.
The UCCS College of Business was established in 1965 and has more than 1,300 undergraduates and 450 MBA and distance MBA students. The College of Business and Administration awards the Bachelor of Science in Business and Bachelor of Innovation degrees. The Graduate School of Business Administration awards the Master of Business Administration degree. More than 7,300 alumni of the College of Business live and work around the world.
The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, located on Austin Bluffs Parkway in Colorado Springs, is one of the fastest growing universities in the nation. The University offers 34 bachelor’s degrees, 19 master’s and five doctoral degrees. The campus enrolls about 8,500 students annually.