Branding Colorado's Green Energy Cluster

This year has seen a wave of positive developments for the green energy sector in Colorado, from the ConocoPhillips purchase of the former Storage Technology site to to the massive $130 million venture capital funding of Broomfield-based biofuel company Range Fuels.

The time is now ripe for regional boosters, civic organizations and clean energy trade groups in Colorado to come up with a memorable nickname for the alternative energy cluster in the region to help brand this sector's presence in Colorado in the same way that "Silicon Valley" represents the technology sector in the San Jose/San Francisco corridor. Giving the sector a concrete, memorable identity will help plant the idea in the public consciousness that Colorado is the place to be for green entrepreneurs, investors and workers, and serve as a rallying cry to help recruit employers and complementary economic entities to the area. This branding action will serve as a preemptive strike against other metro areas who are fiercely competing for similar jobs and investments. Once the nickname is established, a focused public relations and advertising campaign should be used to create brand awareness.

A short, simple, catchy, relevant, two to three word nickname is required. To get the ball rolling here are some suggested components for the name.

Possible alternatives for the first part of the phrase:

• green
  
• renewable
  
• alternative
• clean
• sustainable
  

Possible alternatives for the second part of the phrase:

• prairie
  
• plains
  
• foothills
  
• mountains
• range
• slope
  

The alternative that sounds best to me is "The Renewable Range." I like the meaning, the catchiness of the "double r" alliteration and the implied geographical references to "the Front Range," the well known term for the most populous part of Colorado on the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains.

I am wondering what others think? Please send your suggestions and comments.