Renewable energy is a jobs bonanza for Colorado

As is the case with almost every election, there is much debate on a variety of issues. But when it comes to American-made energy, all parties can agree that more homegrown renewable power benefits everyone. The good news for Colorado is that the wind and solar industries are booming, and that growth is driving an ever-increasing demand for well-trained workers. Thanks to extensions to the federal production and investment tax credits at the end of 2015, there is now new certainty that Colorado’s renewable energy sector will continue to grow and thrive in the upcoming years. Fellow Coloradoans should note that these policies were extended, in part, due to the bipartisan support of Colorado’s United States Senators Cory Gardner and Michael Bennet. These long-term extensions will continue to help drive down the cost of renewable energy, and create additional demand for new in-state renewable power projects. And with our state’s tremendous wind and solar power potential, Colorado is well positioned to meet that demand. The Colorado wind and solar industries already employ more than 11,000 workers, and the in-state solar industry saw a 16 percent jump in job growth last year alone. Nationally, the US solar industry added more than 20,000 workers in 2015, while wind turbine technician was the fastest growing profession in the country. This isn’t just flash in the pan development; the solar industry projects that it will more than double by 2020, reaching 420,000 workers, and a U.S. Department of Energy report released last year found that the American wind industry could support 600,000 workers by 2050. The most compelling aspect of this job growth is that since renewable energy is produced and serviced locally, most of these jobs cannot be outsourced to another part of the globe. With the price of wind dropping more than 66 percent between 2009 and 2015 and the cost of solar installation falling a whopping 73 percent since 2010, these industries are showing no signs of slowing down. Wind is the number one source of new electric generation capacity last year, while the solar industry installed panels to produce a record-breaking 7,260 megawatts.

Colorado PUC Reverses Rejection Of Xcel’s Solar Settlement

The Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has unanimously approved a proposed settlement agreement between Xcel Energy and three community solar companies after reconsidering the deal. In February, Xcel announced a compromise with Clean Energy Collective, Community Energy Inc. and SunShare under which the utility agreed, among other things, to procure up to 60 MW of new community solar garden (CSG) capacity in Colorado through its Solar*Rewards Community program this year. The PUC rejected the agreement in March, claiming the proposal lacked sufficient details to support approval. In a press release, the PUC says that new testimony and additional financial and legal evidence presented at a June 1 rehearing adequately demonstrated that the proposed agreement was in the public interest. The PUC says the agreement will spread the benefits of CSGs among as many customers as possible, including low-income and other individuals and businesses that want to promote solar energy. Among the issues resolved by the rehearing were questions about the $0.03/kwh renewable energy credit price and the method for determining customer bill credits for CSGs. Alice Jackson, Xcel Energy’s regional vice president, rates and regulatory affairs, has welcomed the new decision. However, Jackson notes that the details of the approval are still unclear until the written order is issued. “The Colorado Public Utilities Commission’s approval of the settlement is reflective of Xcel Energy’s dedication to always delivering what our customers want – more energy choices,” says Jackson. “The collaborative approach with the parties is appreciated and is important to our energy future in Colorado.” Clean Energy Collective says the aim of the settlement agreement was to address elements of Xcel’s program that had the unintended consequence of prioritizing only certain types of commercial customers. Now that the PUC has approved the settlement, Paul Spencer, Clean Energy Collective founder and CEO, states, “We appreciate the commission’s efforts addressing this important issue and are pleased with their decision. The broad support from political leaders, Xcel Energy, conservation organizations, and others is why Colorado is a leader in community solar and will continue to have a vibrant, healthy industry.” For its part, Clean Energy Collective says it will immediately carry on developing 12 MW of capacity awarded in its 2015 allocation from the utility and will bid for additional Xcel projects allowed by this decision.