Wendy Burt-Thomas
Posted: Monday, October 20, 2008 6:53 pm

 They call them “megapolitans” — regions containing clustered cities in which the population exceeds or will exceed 10 million by the year 2040. And according to a recent report released by Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program, the Front Range will likely be the first of any area in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada or Utah to fulfill the definition’s criteria.

The prediction is largely based on three particular attributes of the Front Range:

1. High education levels (In 2005, 36.7% of residents had at least a bachelor’s degree — compared to 27.0% nationally)

2. Above-average labor productivity (8% higher than the national average in 2005)

3. A first-class airport (ranked among the top 10 world airports in takeoffs and landings)

In addition, the Front Range is one of the oldest urban spaces in the Intermountain West, has strong industry clusters, and boasts a large share of employment in knowledge jobs.

Although the prospect may sound exciting to some (and overwhelming to others), there are major complications that accompany the label. Extreme growth (the Front Range’s population is predicted to grow by 70% by 2040) means more provisions. Water, energy, housing and transit will be just some of the major concerns. 

There is little doubt that the federal government will have to become involved, be it in funding, facilitating collaborative regional water agreements, or reforming MPO (Metropolitan Planning Organizations) laws. 

The movement toward global center doesn’t have to contradict the Front Range’s current developments toward becoming that nation’s renewable energy capital. In fact, some of the first items on the region’s agenda should be to lobby for the expansion of the national energy transmission grid and extend federal tax credits and loan guarantees for alternative energy generation and adoption.

While 2040 is a long way off and the identity shift from rural to metro may take decades for some, Front Range leaders aren’t waiting to be crowned “global center.” To prepare, major green initiatives have begun transforming everything from construction and manufacturing to open spaces and energy. In fact, the Front Range is now a benchmark by which other megapolitans measure their sustainability efforts and success. (Denver ranked 9th greenest U.S. city in Sustainlane.com’s national report card of the 50 largest cities for urban sustainability.) Here are just a few sustainability “firsts” to brag about:

• Denver International Airport was the first in the nation to be accepted into the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Performance Track program.

• Arvada is creating one of the world’s first fossil fuel-free communities. Called Geos, the 250-home area will cover 25 acres while maintaining 40% green space.

• The Museum of Contemporary Art/Denver is expected to be the first museum in the country to achieve LEED® (Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design) Gold certification.

• The National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden is building a 210,000-square-foot research support facility that is predicted to be “one of the greenest buildings ever constructed.” It has been designed to achieve a LEED® Platinum designation — the highest benchmark awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council. 

 • In the early ‘90s, Denver created the first “Green Fleet” program in the nation by purchasing alternative fuel vehicles.

• Colorado State University is building the world’s largest university-owned wind facility to power its entire campus.

• Xcel Energy, the state’s largest electric and natural gas utility, is making significant investments in renewable resources and energy efficiency. The utility is the number one provider of wind power in the U.S., is ranked fifth for solar use and is sponsoring several next generation, renewable energy storage projects. Xcel Energy also has proposed new aggressive energy efficiency goals, partnering with state agencies and regulators to identify goals that go beyond current regulatory commitments.

Though the Front Range is on its way to becoming a “global center,” plans to prepare for the needs of the future are only as strong as the people who make them — and carry them out. And while the “green” leaders often appear as recognizable companies, organizations or government initiatives, most environment experts agree that individual conservation is the foundation for maintaining the region’s beauty — and resources.