Five Low-Income Community Solar Projects Planned in CO

The Colorado Energy Office and GRID Alternatives plan five community solar projects to serve low-income households in western Colorado. Delta Montrose Electric Association, Gunnison County Electric Association, Holy Cross Energy, San Miguel Power Association and Yampa Valley Electric Association have volunteered to build low-income projects totaling 579 kW. Each project is designed to optimize the community solar model to reduce energy costs for the utilities' highest need customers - those who spend more than 4 percent of income on utility bills - in Colorado's rural communities. GRID received a $1.2 million Colorado Energy Office (CEO) grant in August 2015 to implement low-income community solar, and has played an instrumental role securing agreements from each utility partner.