Former Colorado Senate majority spokesman to head solar association

COSEIA Stern, settling into his new, solar-powered digs. He’s worked on campaigns for Democrats [2] for years, and now Eddie Stern [3] is hoping he shines in his new position. Stern, the former director of communications for the Colorado Senate Majority [4], has been hired as the director of the Colorado Solar Energy Association [5], the group formed in 1989 that represents hundreds of solar industry members across the state. “We’re excited to welcome Eddie to the COSEIA team,” said Annie Lappé, Vice President of the Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association [6] board of directors. “Eddie brings political savviness and communications expertise to the organization, gained from years of working throughout Colorado – from the Western Slope, Southern Colorado to the Front Range. Eddie is perfectly poised to help COSEIA continue its mission of expanding Colorado’s solar energy industry.” Stern, who also has worked on the staff of former Congressman John Salazar [7], was looking forward to his new job. “The solar energy industry employs thousands of Coloradans and has positioned Colorado as a national hub of sustainable energy development,” he said. “I want to thank Neal Lurie, COSEIA’s outgoing Executive Director for his work helping to grow Colorado’s solar energy industry. I’m incredibly excited to be a part of this organization.”

Solar Power Colorado Theme Set for Feb 5-6

Conference to highlight utility CEO panel. Colorado’s largest solar energy gathering of the year is drawing leading industry executives from around the nation who want to be part of paving The Path to a Million Solar Roofs. Solar Power Colorado highlight a ‘State of the Industry’ panel with leading solar CEOs sharing their views on the road ahead. This year’s conference also includes an insightful discussion on solar-utility partnerships with utility CEOs, including David Eves, President and CEO of Public Service Company of Colorado. The conference runs February 5 and 6 at The Westin in Westminster. “Solar energy is now a $100 billion global industry,” said Neal Lurie, Executive Director of the nonprofit Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association which organizes the conference. “As Colorado pioneers its path to a Million Solar Roofs, we’re excited to bring solar executives and utility leaders together to build partnerships for future growth.” Chief executives from a range of leading solar companies will share their insights. Confirmed speakers include: Danny Kennedy, Founder of Sungevity; Ole Pilgaard, President of Heliodyne; Blake Jones, President and CEO of Namaste Solar, Julia Hamm, Executive Director of the national Solar Energy Power Association, and Paul Spencer, President and Founder of the Clean Energy Collective. In addition to David Eves of Public Service Company of Colorado (Xcel Energy), Del Worley, CEO of Holy Cross Energy will offer a co-op perspective on solar and other utility leaders will also speak. Policy leaders confirmed include former Gov. Bill Ritter and state senator Gail Schwartz. The event will provide the empetus for pushing the Path to a Million Solar Roofs. The goal is provide about 3 Gigawatts of solar energy in Colorado by 2030 through a combination of photovoltaic electric systems and solar thermal heating and cooling systems. The campaign includes efforts to boost public outreach, utility partnerships and public-private collaborations to encourage the growth of solar energy from small arrays on homes to large utility-scale projects, and from community solar gardens to industrial rooftop projects. To reach this goal, solar would supply nearly a fifth of our state’s energy needs. Attendees will learn the latest about a variety of innovative programs including the COSEIA-led Solar Friendly Communities ( www.solarcommunities.org [2]) and how it is making a tangible difference in driving down the cost of going solar.

Colorado's solar-power goal: Grow it tenfold

Colorado’s solar-power industry is readying a “Million Solar Roofs” campaign to raise the amount of solar power generated in the state to 3,000 megawatts — nearly one-fifth of the state’s electricity use. Currently, solar-power systems generate nearly 300 megawatts of electricity in Colorado, Neal Lurie, executive director of the Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association (COSEIA), said Wednesday in an interview. “It’s a bold step, but when you look at how solar costs have come down in the last few years, we think it’s achievable,” Lurie said. The campaign will kick off Feb. 5-6 during COSEIA’s annual Solar Power Colorado conference, held this year at The Westin in Westminster. Lurie said now is a good time for the campaign because the cost of solar-power systems has dropped about 75 percent in three years, while utility bills have risen steadily. “When we see how things are trending, we are at the cusp of a new chapter in solar,” Lurie said. “There are new opportunities on the horizon that we could only dream about a few years ago, but we need to start charting a path to get there.“We’re announcing the Million Solar Roofs campaign, and taking a step back to look at what it takes for Colorado to get a million solar roofs.”Lurie said the campaign will focus on four main areas: • Reducing so-called “soft costs,” such as for permits. COSEIA has launched a effort called Solar Friendly Communities to help governments streamline inspection and permitting practices for solar-power systems.In November, Denver was named the first “Solar Friendly Community” in the nation for changes the city made to its solar-power permitting process. • Ensuring regulatory stability and removing regulatory barriers for the solar-power industry. • Working on new partnerships across different industry sectors, such as finance, insurance and supply companies, in order to reduce costs. • Launching a “Go Solar Colorado” outreach program to encourage people and businesses to use solar power. Speakers at the conference will include David Eves, president and CEO of Public Service Co. of Colorado (PSCo), a division of Xcel Energy Inc.; and Del Worley, CEO of Holy Cross Energy, a rural co-op that serves about 55,000 consumers in Eagle, Pitkin, Garfield, Mesa and Gunnison counties. Several executives from solar-power companies also will speak.

Year's Largest Solar Industry Meeting in Westminster

Colorado's largest solar energy gathering of the year is drawing leading industry executives from around the nation who want to be part of paving The Path to a Million Solar Roofs. Solar Power Colorado is slated for February 5 and 6 at The Westin in Westminster as the annual gathering of the Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association. The conference is the year's biggest business-to-business opportunity for networking with solar industry executives, identifying new market opportunities and learning about exciting new solar products at the Expo Hall. Registration is now open, and there are prime locations available for exhibitors. But prices go up after January 25, so register today at this website. With an anticipated 500 industry leaders in attendance, Solar Power Colorado will kick off the Million Solar Roofs campaign and lay the groundwork for this exciting initiative to dramatically increase the amount of all kinds of solar energy in use in Colorado. Through keynote addresses and expert panels, solar leaders will flesh out the vision and develop concrete steps to reach this ambitious goal. Solar is already a $100 billion industry globally and Colorado is widely recognized as a national leader. David Eves, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Public Service Company of Colorado (Xcel Energy) will share insights into the future of solar from the perspective of Colorado's largest utility. Del Worley, CEO of Holy Cross Energy will offer a co-op perspective on solar and other utility leaders will also speak. Policy leaders confirmed include former Gov. Bill Ritter and state senator Gail Schwartz. Chief executives from a range of leading solar companies will share their insights. Confirmed speakers include: Danny Kennedy, Founder of Sungevity; Ole Pilgaard, President of Heliodyne; Blake Jones, President and CEO of Namaste Solar, Julia Hamm, Executive Director of the national Solar Energy Power Association, and Paul Spencer, President and Founder of the Clean Energy Collective. These speakers and others will help lay the Path to a Million Solar Roofs. The goal is provide about 3 Gigawatts of solar energy in Colorado by 2030 through a combination of photovoltaic electric systems and solar thermal heating and cooling systems. The campaign will enlist public support, utility partnerships and public-private collaborations to encourage the growth of solar energy from small arrays on homes to large utility-scale projects, and from community solar gardens to industrial rooftop projects. To reach this goal, solar would supply about a fifth of our state's energy needs. "We are excited to outline our Million Solar Roofs campaign at the conference and to enlist industry leaders to help us flesh out the details and to develop an effective plan for reaching this ambitious goal,'' said Neal Lurie, executive director of COSEIA. Attendees will learn the latest about a variety of innovative programs including the COSEIA-led Solar Friendly Communities and how it is making a tangible difference in driving down the cost of going solar. Community solar gardens have debuted across Colorado in the past year and a panel of experts will share lessons they have learned. A panel featuring representatives from leading retailers will examine why some of the biggest brands in America are so keen to go solar. Throughout the two days of the conference, the exhibit hall will be chock full of the latest and greatest in all kinds of solar technology from about 100 organizations. And new for 2013 will be a stage where product trainings and presentations will increase the educational content. For more information about exhibit hall opportunities or registration, please contact Jason Henderson at COSEIA (jhenderson@coseia.org).