Four counties in northwestern Colorado are likely to be the sites of extensive energy resource development in the next two decades. Possible socioeconomic impacts of the many proposed projects are discussed in this report. A description of the socioeconomic environment as it existed in late 1980 is provided to furnish a basis for the evaluation of projected impacts. Particular emphasis is placed on projections of construction and operation work forces for the energy projects and of the accompanying non-basic workers and families. These new populations, the pace of their arrival, and their choices of residence location and life-style are at the core of almost all other projected socioeconomic impacts.