Town of Silt Completes 234 kW PV Array

The Town of Silt, Colo., has placed a 234 kW solar photovoltaic power system into service. The ground-mount array, developed by Sunsense and Sunforce Solutions, is located near Silt's waste treatment plant. The facility consists of 756 Canadian Solar CS6x-P 310 W modules mounted on S:Flex racking. The system incorporates eight SMA Sunny Tripower 24000TL-US and 1 12000TL-US string inverters. The PV plant will provide electricity for the town under a 20-year power purchase agreement. Xcel is buying the renewable energy certificates generated by the plant at $0.06/kWh. Sunsense was responsible for the installation, and Sunforce structured the financing and all contractual documentation and sold the system to a Colorado investor. Samuel Engineering Inc. provided construction services. Jens Herzog, chief operating officer for San Francisco-based Sunforce Solutions, says Silt was looking to reduce their electricity costs while improving sustainability. The site near the waste treatment facility proved nearly ideal for a ground-mount array. "The site was pretty level, and only minor grading was necessary," Herzog says. "Site access was easy, and the area was large enough to size the system according to the city’s needs. We had no environmental issues, and permitting was easy. The town and all people involved were very supportive."

Craig community celebrate solar garden

Craig — Although the solar garden reception started just as the sun dropped behind the horizon, plenty of energy filled Cassidy's Bar and Lounge Wednesday night at the Clarion Inn and Suites. The garden is a collaborative effort between the city of Craig, Clean Energy Collective and Yampa Valley Electric Association. CEC hosted the reception to celebrate finishing the 577-kilowatt system. Those who rent or own property on YVEA’s electric grid can purchase one of the $825 panels. Each panel will save customers about $45 per year on electric bills. As of Oct. 8, customers had purchased 46 percent of the garden. Paul Spencer, CEO and founder of Clean Energy Collective, said he's happy the Craig community is open to looking at all available solutions to energy production. Spencer spoke at a reception hosted by CEC to celebrate and answer questions about Craig's solar garden. Craig Mayor Terry Carwile, YVEA General Manager Diane Johnson and CEC Chief Executive Officer Paul Spencer spoke at the reception and expressed gratitude at the ability to participate in a partnership that brings diversification to Craig’s energy blend. “The project is small, but the impact potential is huge,” Carwile said. At the same time the garden brings diversification to Craig’s energy sources, it also helps YVEA meet state regulations. In June 2013, the Colorado Senate passed a bill that requires YVEA to have 20 percent of the energy in their portfolio come from renewable sources by 2020. Spencer said his company approached YVEA years ago, but it just wasn’t the right time for the company to make the move. He was glad to see the change of heart when YVEA approached him in 2012 “It became important to them,” Spencer said. “And others see it as momentous that Craig has engaged it as a viable solution.” The entire state of Colorado has 359 megawatts of solar energy capacity, or enough to power 68,600 homes. Carwile talked about touring the garden and seeing Craig Station’s smokestacks in the background, as well as his past employment in the coal industry and present pride in the garden. “It’s been a grand opportunity for me to help facilitate a new energy project in this community,” Carwile said. “And I want to say in a broader sense that I believe that we should be energy leaders in this part of the state.”

Leading Solar Experts to speak at Solar Power Colorado 2015: The Next 25 Years

Omni Resort and Conference Center Broomfield, Colorado (Denver Area) February 23-25, 2015 The Largest Solar Energy Conference in the Rocky Mountain Region Leading Solar Experts to speak at Solar Power Colorado 2015: The Next 25 Years Leaders in solar business, policy and technology will be speaking next month at Solar Power Colorado 2015: The Next 25 Years. The annual conference of the Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association will acknowledge the quarter century history of COSEIA, while focusing on the future. The conference takes place February, 23-25 at the Omni Resort in Broomfield and registration is open at http://coseia.org/conference/. "We are excited that inspirational leaders in the solar industry from around the nation are coming to engage in stimulating conversation that will provide important insights into the best path forward,'' said Rebecca Cantwell, executive director of COSEIA. "This is a unique opportunity in the Rocky Mountain region to hear from so many leaders, and to network with fellow professionals as well.'' Headlining the opening CEO panel will be the new CEO of RES Americas, Glen Davis, and Abengoa Solar's U.S. executive Frederick Redell, along with home grown Colorado solar leaders Paul Spencer of Clean Energy Collective and Lou Villaire of Grand Junction's Atlasta Solar. Exploring the Future of Utilities will be Jeff Guldner of Arizona Public Service, Derek Elder of Grand Valley Power and Heather Bailey, who is spearheading Boulder's efforts to create a new municipal utility. They'll be joined by veteran utilities executive David Freeman in a session moderated by Tanuj Deora, EVP of the Solar Electric Power Association. Panel sessions will explore all the hot-button solar issues of the day. Looking into the future of energy storage and batteries will be speakers from Solar City, Rocky Mountain Institute, Iron Edison and the Energy Storage Association. A session looking at how state policies need to evolve will feature Jacqueline Patterson, Director, Environmental and Climate Justice Program of the NAACP. along with speakers from SunShare, Fort Collins Utilities and more. Confronting Climate Change is on the minds of everyone from the President to the United Nations and our panel will feature top experts on national, state and global policy including leading climate scientist Kevin Trenberth from NCAR. New solar financing models are cropping up for solar energy systems both big and small, and our panel of experts will include top thinkers from NREL, Sol Systems, the Colorado Energy Office and Namaste Solar. Looking at what it will take to build a more intelligent energy system is the subject of a panel on The Internet of Energy that will feature Ameet Konkar, Enphase Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives; Chris Black of Tendril and Paul Denholm of NREL. Solar thermal technologies and financing methods are developing quickly and Andrew East, CEO of AET Solar will share his approach, as will Patrick Sheppard, President of VaporGenics. Solar Power Colorado also features a prominent exhibit hall where leading solar organizations from numerous industry segments will show off their newest technology and solutions. They include CED Greentech, SolarEdge, Battery Systems, NESCO, Sunbandit, Enphase, Solectria, eGauge and many more. Visit 2015 Solar Power Colorado Exhibitors to see our current list of exhibiting companies from around the country. ================================================================== For more information: Rebecca Cantwell, Executive Director, COSEIA, rcantwell@coseia.org or 303-333-7342.

Solar Industry Creating Jobs Nearly 20 Times Faster than Overall U.S. Economy

The Solar Foundation (TSF), an independent nonprofit solar research and education organization, has released its fifth annual National Solar Jobs Census. The Census found that the U.S. solar industry employed 173,807 Americans in 2014, a figure that includes the addition of more than 31,000 solar jobs over the previous year, representing 21.8 percent growth in solar industry employment since November 2013. Solar employment grew nearly 20 times faster than the national average employment growth rate of 1.1 percent in the same period. “The solar industry has once again proven to be a powerful engine of economic growth and job creation,” said Andrea Luecke, President and Executive Director of The Solar Foundation. “The solar sector has grown an extraordinary 86 percent in the last four years, adding approximately 81,000 jobs. Our Census findings show that one out of every 78 new jobs created in the U.S. over the past 12 months was created by the solar industry – nearly 1.3% of all jobs. It also shows for the fifth consecutive year, the solar industry is attracting highly-skilled, well-paid professionals. That growth is putting people back to work and strengthening our nation’s economy.” The solar installation sector is already larger than well-established sectors of fossil fuel generation, such as coal mining (93,185 jobs). The solar installation sector added nearly 50% more jobs in 2014 than the total created by both the oil and gas pipeline construction industry (10,529), and the crude petroleum and natural gas extraction industry (8,688). Solar employers are also optimistic about 2015, expecting to add another 36,000 jobs over the coming year.[i] “The tremendous growth in the solar industry last year, including job growth that is outpacing the national average, is further evidence that we can clean our air and cut climate pollution while also growing the economy,” said Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg L.P., philanthropist and 108th Mayor of New York City. "The more data we have about the renewable energy industry, the better positioned policymakers and investors will be to make informed decisions. The Solar Jobs Census has the potential to help make that possible." “Demand for clean renewable power is growing. Solar exists at the critical intersection between energy, the economy, and the environment,” said Robert Reich, former U.S. Secretary of Labor and Professor of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley. “As the nation’s fastest growing energy source, solar is adding thousands of new jobs each year. Its growth will almost surely continue to be robust in coming years.” “SolarCity is extremely proud to be the largest solar employer in the U.S., and to have added more than 4,000 new U.S. jobs in 2014 – jobs that can’t be outsourced,” said Lyndon Rive, Chief Executive Officer of SolarCity (NASDAQ: SCTY). “Americans want greater clean energy deployment, and conventional electricity generation is among the largest sources of air and water pollution in the U.S. As the Census underscores, solar is providing a tremendous boost to our economy while meeting public demand for choice, competition, and cleaner, more affordable energy.” “SunEdison is an American company that employs thousands of talented men and women across the United States,” said Ahmad Chatila, Chief Executive Officer of SunEdison (NASDAQ: SUNE). “As the largest renewable energy development company in the world, I’m very proud to be part of an industry that is creating thousands of high quality American jobs.” Corporate leaders heralded The Solar Foundation’s Census findings, noting the exceptional double bottom line return on investment that solar deployment has provided them. "IKEA is proud of its installation of approximately 40MW of solar arrays atop nearly 90% of our U.S. locations,” said Rob Olson, Chief Financial Officer, IKEA. “We are thrilled that our solar investment also helps contribute to a growing clean tech economy – and accelerate the creation of new solar jobs throughout the country." “At General Motors, we believe in the economic benefits that come with investment in and deployment of renewable energy,” said Rob Threlkeld, Global Renewable Energy Manager, GM (NYSE: GM). “With more than 46 megawatts of solar housed at 18 facilities across the globe, we see the power of sunshine as an integral part of becoming a more energy efficient company.” The National Solar Jobs Census 2014 was conducted by The Solar Foundation and BW Research Partnership with support from The George Washington University. The report, derived from data collected from more than 7,600 U.S. businesses, measured employment growth in the solar industry between November 2013 and November 2014. The margin of error of this data set is +/-2.03%, significantly lower than any similar national industry study. “The study shows both aggressive hiring and clear optimism among U.S. solar companies,” said Philip Jordan, Vice President at BW Research Partnership. “Of particular interest was the continued high wages among solar installers. Additionally, we found that the installation sector is generally more diverse than other energy sectors, hiring African-Americans and Latinos at a faster rate than the oil, gas, coal and construction sectors.” The full National Solar Jobs Census report is available at http://TheSolarFoundation.org. State-by-state jobs numbers, including a more detailed analysis of the Arizona, California, Georgia, Maryland, New York and Texas solar markets, as well as The Solar Foundation’s updated State Solar Jobs Map, will be released in mid-February. The Solar Foundation® (TSF) http://thesolarfoundation.org

New Multi State Study from Lawrence Berkeley Lab Shows Solar Improves Home Value

A new SunShot-funded study led by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that homebuyers have been willing to pay more for homes with host-owned PV systems. Homebuyers will pay about $4 more per watt of PV installed across various states, housing and PV markets, and home types. This equates to a premium of about $15,000 for a typical PV system. The team analyzed almost 22,000 sales of homes, almost 4,000 of which contained PV systems in eight states from 2002 to 2013—producing the most authoritative estimates to date of price premiums for U.S. homes with PV systems.

US: Solar better investment than stocks, study finds

A typical solar PV system represents a better investment than the stock market in 46 of America's largest 50 cities, according to a report from NC Clean Energy Technology Center. Rooftop install, Oklahoma. A study by the NC Clean Energy Technology Center has found that the majority of U.S. homeowners who invest in a typical 5 kW solar PV system will be making a better investment than if they put their money into the stock market. According to the report, titled Going Solar in America: Ranking Solar’s Value to Consumers in America’s Largest Cities (PDF) and which was funded by the Department of Energy (DOE), citizens in 46 of America’s 50 largest cities will enjoy greater returns from a fully financed solar PV installation, while residents of 42 of these cities already enjoy solar energy costs that are lower than those of the local utility. Further, the report also estimates that some 9.1 million Americans live in a city where solar costs less than current utility rates even when a PV system is bought outright – dispelling the notion that solar energy is either for the rich or only viable on a lease or loan basis. Additionally, low-cost financing models make solar the cheapest energy option for nearly 21 million Americans, found the study. The report’s authors point to a "clear information gap" between the realities of solar’s affordability and its perceived costs. Its conclusion that solar is a "real opportunity for anyone looking to take greater control over their monthly utility bills and make a long-term, relatively low-risk investment" is championed by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). "This study proves once again that solar makes great financial sense for a large number of Americans," said SEIA CEO and president, Rhone Resch. "Every three minutes of every single day, the U.S. solar industry is flipping the switch on another completed solar project, benefiting homeowners and businesses nationwide." Solar vs. stocks and utilities The NC Clean Energy Technology Center study ranked the relative value of investing in solar against a long-term investment indexed to the Standard and Poor’s 500 stock index, giving a Net Present Value (NPV) for investment in each of America’s 50 largest cities. It found that for solar customers in 20 of these cities, paying cash upfront for a solar PV system is a better investment than the stock market over the 25-year life cycle of a typical installation. San Jose, San Francisco and Oakland led the way on this metric. Financed solar models, meanwhile, proved a better investment than stocks in 46 of those cities, thanks largely to these models’ spreading of costs that allow the consumer to benefit from the existing federal tax credit. When levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) is examined, solar once again comes up trumps, with residents in Washington D.C., Miami, New York, Colorado Springs, Raleigh, Albuquerque, Boston, Philadelphia and San Antonio enjoying favorable rates whether investing in a fully financed or a 0% financed PV system. To calculate this rate of return, the study divided the cost of a typical PV system by the total estimated output of its lifecycle, adjusted for inflation, and then examined the rate at which typical utility bills are expected to rise during that period. Across the U.S., the study estimates that utility rates will rise between 33%-83% over the 25-year typical life of a solar system. Addressing soft costs and other challenges The study placed particular emphasis on the reduction of soft costs, stressing that bringing down the cost of installation, labor, fees and other processes involved with solar was key if the industry hoped to compete in a nationwide, incentive-free environment. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), in 2012 soft costs were responsible for 64% of the total cost of a U.S. residential PV system. Today, both hard and soft costs have come down, but the percentage of soft costs remains one of the highest in the world. The DOE’s SunShot initiative has placed emphasis on bringing soft costs down further, particularly in terms of installation, customer acquisition, financing and permitting/inspections, but the study urges local governments and municipal utilities to do more to bring costs down further, including streamlining permitting processes, leading by example (in fitting solar PV systems atop schools and government buildings) and offering community solar options. The SEIA stresses that solar’s impressive growth in recent years must be maintained, particularly now it is largely provable that PV systems are one of the most affordable energy sources. Recent SEIA/GTM Research findings state that the national blended average system prices for solar PV have fallen 53% since 2010. Furthermore, the industry employs 143,000 Americans, pumps more than $15 billion a year into the U.S. economy and boasts more than 20 GW of capacity – enough to power four million U.S. households. Resch attributes this remarkable growth to smart and effective public policies such as net metering, renewable portfolio standards and the solar investment tax credit. "By any measurement, these policies are paying huge dividends for both the economy and our environment," Resch said. With 50% growth in each of the past three years, and the average price to install residential solar falling to $3.92/watt, the industry is entering unchartered territory where it is now a seriously viable energy option for all Americans – not just wealthy homeowners or zealous environmentalists.

Report: Solar Is Cheaper Than the Grid in 42 of the 50 Largest US Cities

Millions of people live in cities where going solar would cost them less than their current utility rates -- and most of them don’t even know it. According to a new report by the North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center, backed by the SunShot Initiative, a fully financed solar PV system costs less than the energy purchased from a residential customer’s local utility in 42 of the 50 largest cities in the United States. Among single-family homeowners in those 50 cities, the Center estimates that 9.1 million live in a place where solar would be cheaper than their utility bill if they bought the system outright. Nearly 21 million would be better off going solar if low-cost financing is available. “Right now, buying an average-sized, fully-financed solar PV system costs less than electricity from their local utility for 93 percent of single-family homeowners in America’s 50 largest cities, and in most places, is a better investment than many of the stocks that are in their 401(k),” said Jim Kennerly, project manager for the Going Solar in America report. “Nevertheless, most people are unaware that solar is this affordable for people of all walks of life.” Many customers mistakenly think going solar requires having a lot of sunshine. The report points out that solar's value to the customer is more about how much grid energy it can offset. The Center designed a ranking system for investing in solar in 50 cities using pricing data from the online solar quote service EnergySage. The analysis took into account three metrics: first-year average monthly bill savings, the value of investing in solar relative to a long-term investment indexed to the S&P 500 stock index, and the levelized cost of energy from a rooftop solar array. It’s no surprise that places with high electricity rates -- New York, Boston and several cities in California -- claimed some of the top spots on the list. But the study found that solar is also competitive in Kansas City, Atlanta, Charlotte, Milwaukee, Wichita, Columbus and other smaller markets. That’s because low electricity prices don’t necessarily mean consumers save money. U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) data shows that customer in regions with the lowest rates tend to use the most energy and pay the highest bills. For instance, in 2012, the latest year with vetted data, customers in the South Atlantic region paid 11.4 cents per kilowatt-hour on average and $123 for their monthly bill, whereas customers in New England paid 15.7 cents per kilowatt-hour and only $100 on their monthly bill. Electricity prices aren’t likely to get any lower, either. EIA forecasts that utility rates will rise between 33 percent and 83 percent over the next 25 years -- the typical lifetime of a solar PV system. Meanwhile, there’s been a rapid decline in the hardware costs for solar energy, which has made the technology much more accessible in all parts of the country. According to Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the median cost of a residential solar project fell from $12 per watt in 1998 to $4.70 per watt in 2013. EnergySage reports that the average cost of a 5-kilowatt rooftop system in the third quarter of 2014, before incentives, was as low s $3.70 per watt. In the third quarter of 2014, GTM Research found an even greater cost drop for turnkey residential systems of 5 kilowatts to 10 kilowatts, with an average of $3.60 per watt. Policies such as the federal Investment Tax Credit, state renewable portfolio standards, net metering and value-of-solar tariffs have helped to encourage more people to invest in solar, which in return has further reduced costs. Accounting for all of these factors (electricity prices, solar costs, relevant policies, etc.), the report finds that customers in the most of the 50 largest cities would benefit from going solar. Some places will see significant savings upfront. In Kansas City, for instance, residential solar customers can expect to save $57 per month in the first year of ownership. California residents can see even greater savings of up to $187 per month in that first year. Costs per watt are higher in California than in the Midwest, however. That means a California customer would pay $19,840 for a 5-kilowatt solar project, while a customer in Kansas City would pay $18,600. In the Northeast, where installation costs are highest ($4.24 per watt), customers would pay $21,000 on average for a 5-kilowatt system. The report finds that for many of America’s 50 largest cities, the net present value of a dollar invested in solar (what the lifetime of the system is worth in today’s dollars) is greater than a dollar invested in the stock market. In twenty of the 50 cities, customers paying upfront with cash for a 5-kilowatt system will see greater returns than on the stock market over the 25-year life of the system. In 46 of the 50 cities, customers with a fully financed solar project will see better performance than the stock market. Financing over time benefits more people in all cities. San Jose ($23,171), San Francisco ($21,859) and Oakland ($21,839) came out on top. In many cities, the inflation-adjusted levelized cost of energy for solar is competitive with grid energy. The study calculates that 20.7 million single-family homeowners in America’s biggest cities live in a place where financing brings solar to cost parity. In New York, San Diego and Boston, customers could pay 7 cents less than grid energy. It's worth noting that the study assumes a 100 percent financed purchase at 5 percent interest over 25 years. Terms vary, but most loans are shorter, at ten to twelve years. For solar to reach more consumers and compete without incentives going forward, the study calls for further action to reduce non-hardware costs, or soft costs, which account for up to 64 percent of total system costs. Costs associated with customer acquisition, installation labor, financing, and permitting and inspection are especially high. “Thus,” the report says, “it is not hyperbolic to say that the soft-cost reduction challenge is at the heart of getting rooftop solar PV to a level of broad-based cost-effectiveness (and true nationwide consumer acceptance).”

American Petroleum Institute Says Solar Power Will Double 2015-2016

Yes, you did hear that right. For the first time ever, speaking for the oil and gas industry, the American Petroleum Institute is including solar among the energy sources that should be taken seriously in the next couple of years. API's 2015 energy report (api.org) API’s State of American Energy Report, released yesterday, includes a serious analysis of the U.S. solar energy industry. The API energy study highlights the explosive growth of solar and its significant effects on the nation’s economy and environment. Its bottom line: “Today, the U.S. has an estimated 20.2 GW of installed solar capacity, enough to effectively power nearly 4 million homes in the United States—or every single home in a state the size of Massachusetts or New Jersey—with another 20 GW in the pipeline for 2015-16.” Solar comes up fourth in the report, predictably following most of the big spenders: petroleum, nuclear, and hydroelectric power. Geothermal comes after solar, then a special section on “Infrastructure—The Essential Link to a Secure Energy Future,” and subsequent discussions of natural gas, wind, coal, and biomass. The API energy report finishes up with a word about “Energy Efficiency | A Great American Success Story.” The petroleum industry’s annual report summarizes the impact of solar power in this paragraph: Yearly US solar installations and forecast (api.org)Solar energy is now more affordable than ever. According to SEIA/GTM Research, national blended average system prices have dropped 53 percent since 2010. Today, the solar industry employs 143,000 Americans and pumps more than $15 billion a year into the U.S. economy. Discussing the impact of solar energy on the environment, the API energy report praises the efforts of policymakers for instituting the Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), Net Energy Metering (NEM), and Renewable Energy Standards (RES). “Solar helped to offset an estimated 20 million metric tons of harmful CO2 emissions in 2014, which is the equivalent of taking four million cars off U.S. highways…. When looking at America’s energy future, solar can be a real game changer, providing more and more homes, businesses, schools and government entities across the United States with clean, reliable and affordable electricity, while also helping states to meet proposed new obligations under Section 111(d) of the Clean Air Act.” Although he also did express support of the Keystone XL project at a recent news conference, API President and CEO Jack Gerard introduces the State of American Energy Report with these words: The United States is in the midst of a new era in domestic energy abundance characterized by rising use of renewable energy and increased oil and natural gas production that is strengthening our economic outlook and enabling America to emerge as a global energy superpower. It’s a remarkable transformation that has been made possible because America is uniquely rich in energy resources, a talented workforce, and cutting-edge energy technologies. Our colleague Roy Hales at theECOreport points out that Gerard’s message echoes the sentiment behind the DOE’s current $40 billion loan guarantee: 10% is to go to renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, 40% to advanced technology vehicle manufacturing, 30% to advanced nuclear technology & upgrades to existing facilities, and 20% to to “support innovative advanced fossil energy projects that avoid, reduce, or sequester greenhouse gases.” Counting solar-powered vehicles and power grid improvements, which fall under other technologies, the loan guarantee likely provides a share greater than 10% to sustainability. Commenting on the API energy report, Rhone Resch, SEIA President and CEO, remarked, “It took the U.S. solar industry 40 years to install the first 20 GW of solar. Now, we’re going to install the next 20 GW in the next two years. In fact, during every single week of 2015, we’re going to install more capacity than what we did during the entire year in 2006…. Any way you look at it, solar energy is paying huge dividends for the economy, our environment, and America’s future.“ The API concurred in its summary, reinforcing the point that economic growth in the United States relies on the energy sector to ensure continuance of the valued American quality of life. Access the full petroleum energy trade organization report here.

Republicans seek to roll back Colorado Renewable Energy Boom That 80% Of Colorado Citizens Support

Colorado Republicans want to roll back the state's renewable energy mandates, and with greater numbers in the state Legislature this year — along with falling energy prices — party leaders are feeling more confident about their chances. A group of Republican senators wasted no time proposing changes, introducing a bill on the session's first day that would lower the amount of renewable energy sources required of Colorado electricity providers. For larger utilities, which serve most Colorado residents, renewable energy mandates would drop from 30 percent by 2020 to 15 percent by 2020. For rural electricity co-ops, the renewable energy requirement would drop from 20 percent by 2020 to 15 percent by 2020. Leading the effort is Sen. Ray Scott, R-Grand Junction. He said Colorado's renewable-energy standards are too high, and that promises by Democrats in recent years that the stricter standards wouldn't burden consumers have been broken. Colorado residents paid an average of 11.74 cents per kilowatt hour in October, the most recent figures available from the U.S. Department of Energy. That was below the national average of 12.58 cents per kilowatt hour, but Republican critics of the standards say renewable energy mandates are still a burden. "It's being paid for by the ratepayers, not the utilities," Scott said. "And, quite frankly, if it's such a great idea, the companies should build these systems. It shouldn't be done on the backs of the ratepayers." The top Republican in the House, Rep. Brian DelGrosso, talked about renewable energy when laying out his party's agenda for the year. "Oil, natural gas and coal not only provide clean, affordable and reliable power, but are economic drivers in many communities in Colorado," DelGrosso said. "We can develop renewable energy and use our current natural resources at the same time." The renewable energy standards were established by voters in 2004 and have been strengthened over the years by Democratic governors and legislatures. Two years ago, Democrats upgraded the requirement for rural electricity co-ops, doubling their renewable energy mandate from 10 percent to 20 percent by 2020. Democrats and environmental activists insist the GOP proposal stands no chance. "It's important to diversify Colorado's energy portfolio," said Rep. Crisanta Duran, a Denver Democrat and a sponsor of the 2013 renewable energy hike for rural utilities. Pete Maysmith, executive director of Conservation Colorado, said his group isn't worried the renewable energy mandates are going down. He called the move to wind and solar energy "incredibly popular" with consumers. Republicans counter that falling energy prices give them a better argument this year. The price of U.S. crude oil fell to its lowest in nearly six years earlier this week. "Look at the cost of energy right now," Scott said. "If we have such an abundance of energy, there's really absolutely no reason to go to that extreme." Read more here: http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2015/01/08/3432577_gop-sets-sights-on-colorado-energy.html?rh=1#storylink=cpy

Community And Home Solar Remain Great Investments

If you’re considering buying into a community or home solar project in the future, then you may want to do it within the next year or so. Both the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have recently found that home and community solar facilities (“solar gardens”) will remain great price investments from now through the next several years. The Colorado and California labs have kept tabs on costs of residential/community-scale solar systems for several decades. These government facilities are well aware that residential solar photovoltaic system costs have fallen by an average of 6-8% a year since the late 1990s. Small solar systems (at or under 10 kW) are continuing to dive. A recent study found that the average community solar program has 213 participants, who purchase power from a one-megawatt system that is 71% subscribed. At the beginning of 2014, the average reported price for these systems was $4.50/watt, down from $4.74/watt in 2013. David Feldman, the study’s lead author and an NREL financial analyst, told the Denver Business Journal that “there is still considerable uncertainty as to how low PV system prices will drop in the next five to 10 years.” His report forecasts continued downward costs through 2016, with a bit of rise and fall before stabilizing in 2016. These numbers mean that goals established by the Department of Energy are looking more and more achievable. DOE’s big push is to make solar energy cost-competitive, on a wholesale electricity basis, with most other power sources by 2020. The SunShot Initiative has already reached 60% of its goal. If cost equality is achieved, small solar PV system costs will have fallen by 75% between 2010 and 2020. One of the SSI’s main efforts to accelerate solar deployment in the US has been to support community solar projects so that those who can’t install systems where they live can implement solar energy plans within community property. Utilities currently operate many of these projects for consumers in a win-win type of situation. Co-ops (already set up for billing and administration) are the main community solar drivers, says the Solar Electric Power Association. According to Clean Easy Energy: “In October, SunShot awarded $700,000 to community solar developer Clean Energy Collective to build a national online portal to help other parties develop their own successful community solar programs. Ultimately, the National Community Solar Platform will help drive down the cost of solar and facilitate the nationwide deployment and utilization of solar power.” Although prices are likely to continue to fall for a year or so, many support and incentive programs will possibly expire during that time without renewal. So now couldn’t be a better time to power yourself and your neighbors with emission-free 21st-century solar!