GRID's First Community Solar Groundbreaking

The GRID Alternatives Colorado office is embarking on an unprecedented and first-of-its-kind project this spring. Community Solar is a new approach that GRID is piloting in Colorado that will increase access to solar energy for low-income families. Differing from our Rooftop program, Community Solar will be a large scale, ground-mounted photovoltaic system brought about through partnerships with local utility companies such as Grand Junction based Grand Valley Power. By increasing the size of the solar systems GRID volunteers install, we will better be able to serve greater numbers of clients by reducing qualifications and increasing energy output. On Friday March 27th, encouraged by the applause produced by a 50+ person group made up of GRID Alternatives staff, representatives from Grand Valley Power and members of the Grand Valley business community, GRID Colorado’s Executive Director Chuck Watkins celebrated the official groundbreaking on a site that will soon provide 7 families clean, renewable and affordable solar energy. Friday’s groundbreaking was the first event celebrating GRID Alternative’s investment in community solar but it certainly will not be the last. The Grand Valley Power project will wrap up with a two day Community Solarthon event taking place on May 29th and 30th, 2015. During Community Solarthon, over 100 volunteers consisting of community members, solar sponsors and job trainees will participate in every aspect of the instillation process from setting up racking to panel install and wiring. There is still time for you to participate in this landmark event! Please see the Community Solarthon website for sponsorship opportunities or speak to a GRID staff member over the phone at (303)968-1326.

The Innovation That Lets Low-Income People Profit From the Solar Energy Boom

Thanks to net metering—a practice that lets homeowners sell excess electricity generated by solar panels to utilities—Americans in more than 45 states enjoy cheaper and carbon-free power. Yet one group has missed out on the solar bonanza: Low-income families, who are more likely to rent or live in multifamily housing where net metering isn’t available. But just as community gardens allow people without backyards grow healthy food, the United States’ first utility-built community solar farm hopes to plug the roofless into the green-energy boom. Colorado’s Grand Valley Power last week broke ground on a photovoltaic power plant in Grand Junction, a mainly rural, low-income area. Residents will be able to buy electricity generated by the 25-kilowatt solar system, saving an estimated $50 to $75 on their monthly utility bill. The solar farm is likely to be the first of many if state legislation encouraging their construction is approved. “This is different than the other community solar models that exist,” said Kristina Sickles, Colorado development director for GRID Alternatives, a nonprofit that worked with Grand Valley Power on the project. “Many are put together by a for-profit solar developer owned by a larger financing firm.” For Grand Junction resident Brenda Lange, a disabled 58-year-old living on a limited income, that means she and partner Herb Sanders, 62, will be able to save money on their energy bill when the solar farm goes online later this year—with no money down. Lange had looked into going solar as a way to cut the couple’s expenses discovered a that installing a photovoltaic system was too expensive. “Every month our energy bill seemed like it was getting higher, and when you live on a fixed income you can’t have that,” she said. “It’s a good thing for the community, it’s great to produce a cleaner alternative for energy, and it’s helping us out financially.” The 25-kilowatt solar farm will generate enough energy to serve six to 10 families. Those subscribers are still being selected, Sickles said, based on demonstrated need. Each family must pay a $30 monthly fee to access the grid. They also must pay two cents per kilowatt-hour for the amount of electricity consumed, which is a steal compared to the 11 cents per kilowatt-hour Grand Valley Power normally charges. Each family will sign a four-year contract, which is renewable if they continue to qualify for the program. Tom Walch, Grand Valley Power’s general manager, said that the utility, which operates as a cooperative, wanted to take on the project because it’s focused on providing services—not profits—to its member owners. “We operate at the lowest costs we can,” he said. “We have to earn a margin to keep our members satisfied, but the margins we earn are allocated to members based on their patronage.” To keep costs down, GRID Alternatives negotiated agreements with SunEdison, Enphase Energy, and IronRidge to supply solar panels and other components at a discount. And local organizations Atlasta Solar and Alpine Bank made donations to the project. Walch says that several other local electricity cooperatives have approached him with interest in emulating the model. Legislation now before the Colorado legislature could encourage the spread of community solar farms by letting utilities count them toward a mandate that they obtain 30 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2020. In the true barn-raising model, GRID Alternatives and local nonprofit Housing Resources of Western Colorado are gathering local community members to help finish construction of the solar farm. “Herb and I will be there,” Lange said. “We may not be able to get up on the roof, but we’ll be helping out in some other way.”

GRID Alternatives and Grand Valley Power Announce Community Solar Partnership to Serve Low-Income Customers

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GRID Alternatives, the nation’s largest non-profit solar installer, and Grand Valley Power (GVP), an electric cooperative utility based in Grand Junction, CO, today announced an unprecedented partnership to develop and produce a community solar garden dedicated exclusively to rate-payers qualified as low-income. The first of its kind in Colorado, the 25kW array will provide clean, renewable power to 6-10 families in the Grand Junction area, offsetting up to 90% of their electricity costs. “This model makes sense. We can make clean energy available to folks who have never had access to it. Everybody benefits. By leveraging GRID Alternatives’ expertise in solar development and working with lower income families, we can successfully serve some of our most vulnerable members” "We have seen a tremendous groundswell of hard-working families wanting solar and the benefits it brings,” says Chuck Watkins, Executive Director of GRID Alternatives Colorado. “Community solar can provide solar to all Coloradans regardless if they’re renters or homeowners. We’d like to see this replicated all over Colorado.” The community solar project is the first in the country to be developed by a non-profit in direct partnership with a utility to provide renewable energy generation to qualifying rate-payers. GVP is a major stakeholder in the project, providing land, interconnection, and philanthropic support for the array, which is being designed and built by GRID Alternatives. The utility will own the solar equipment and provide retail bill credit for participating low-income households. GRID and GVP see this partnership as a model that can be duplicated with municipal and cooperative utilities throughout Colorado. “This model makes sense. We can make clean energy available to folks who have never had access to it. Everybody benefits. By leveraging GRID Alternatives’ expertise in solar development and working with lower income families, we can successfully serve some of our most vulnerable members,” stated Tom Walch, General Manager of GVP. In addition to support from GVP, GRID Alternatives is working with local partners such as Housing Resources of Western Colorado, Atlasta Solar and Alpine Bank, and bringing to the project equipment donations from its national partners SunEdison, Enphase Energy and IronRidge. The pilot development will break ground on March 27, and is slated for completion during GRID Alternatives Colorado’s Community Solarthon event on May 30th, 2015. The project will bring together over 100 stakeholders, utility leaders and community members, and make GVP and Colorado a trailblazer in renewable energy access.

Colorado A New Era For Solar

A solar array is going up on a roof of a home or business in the U.S. every four minutes — by one estimate — but getting them hooked up to the grid can take a lot longer. And as the demand grows for photovoltaic solar panels, the processing, approval and connection is becoming a bigger issue and potential barrier. "Addressing this is critical to widespread adoption of PV," said Kristen Ardani, co-author of a National Renewable Energy Laboratory study of the time it takes to apply for and hook-up home and small-business systems to the grid. Ardani's study — based on data from 87 utilities in 16 states — found that while the average time from application to connection to be 53 business days, in Colorado it was 60 business days. The installation of the panels on a roof took two to four days of that time. Another NREL study warned that permitting, inspection and interconnection delays could become "a market barrier that can deter project completion entirely." Faced with the growing list of homeowners opting for solar, Xcel Energy, Colorado's largest electricity supplier, and the state's main trade group, the Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association, have taken steps aimed at speeding approvals. "We are growing into a new era of solar in Colorado," said John Bringenberg, a COSEIA board member. "Our systems have to change with it." Rooftop solar is soaring in Colorado and across the nation, which saw a record 6,201 megawatts of installations in 2014, a 30 percent increase over 2013, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. Annual home installations in Colorado more than doubled between 2012 and 2014 to 42 megawatts. In May, Xcel Energy launched a new online, cloud-computing-based portal for its customers and panel installers to file applications. The utility's "legacy system" couldn't keep up, said Lee Gabler, Xcel's director of energy efficiency and renewable energy. Parts of the filing are now automated; signatures can be done electronically. High marksSolar installers and industry representatives give Xcel's new system high marks. "It is much more transparent and enables you to track projects," said Dan Yechout, residential solar sales director for Boulder-based installer Namaste Solar. Using the portal, application work and approvals can be done in about two weeks, Yechout said. (Click to enlarge) While applications can be done online for Xcel, municipal applications and those for other utilities are still done on paper, Yechout said. When a customer applies for rooftop solar through the portal, the application goes into a queue for Xcel's Solar Rewards program. Solar Rewards provides an incentive of 2 cents for each kilowatt-hour a customer-owned home solar unit generates and 1 cent for each kilowatt-hour generated by leased systems. The program, however, has a cap of 24 megawatts a year, Gabler said. Since 2006, 24,232 customers have installed 223 megawatts of solar generation under the Solar Rewards program. Even with the improvement in online applications, installers say that there are still problems with Xcel's system. "Sometimes it feels as if utilities are not trying to make this partnership work," said Will Craven, a spokesman for SolarCity, which leases home solar panels in 16 states. SolarCity has 7,000 customers in Colorado, according to the company. In Xcel's Colorado service area, it takes an average of 41 days to complete a residential system, Craven said. That isn't as bad as SolarCity's experience with Maryland's Pepco — 90 days — but it puts Xcel in the bottom quarter, Craven said. Among the best performers, Craven said, are Connecticut Light & Power and San Diego Gas and Electric at five days or less. As Solar Rewards incentives have been cut — and are set to become smaller — some customers are ready to forgo them and just install panels, Namaste's Yechout said. It turns out that is more complicated and time-consuming than applying for a Solar Rewards incentive, he said. "You can't go through the portal. And unless the installer is persistent, an application can languish," Yechout said. "It will be essential for the utility to create a process for these applications because more and more customers will go that route." Xcel plans to add this type of application to the online portal, the company said. Streamlining steps Ardani's NREL analysis found that nationally the largest chunk of time is tied up in the utility application process — an average of 18 days. The second-most-time-consuming step was getting the permission to tie into the grid — 10 to 12 days. "But every state is different, and so are the challenges," Ardani said. The NREL study didn't break out the time for local building permit applications. In some Colorado communities this can take as long as 45 days, Yechout said. In 2012, the state trade group COSEIA launched the "Solar Friendly Communities" program to encourage local governments to streamline permitting. "It is a voluntary program, but the response has been very good," COSEIA executive director Rebecca Cantwell said. The program now covers 16 Front Range counties and communities, with about half the state's population, Cantwell said. "As solar arrays become more standardized, we are trying to encourage local building departments to think of them not like a custom house addition but a furnace," she said. Changes made by Fort Collins knocked two weeks off the city's permitting process, Cantwell said. Denver provides one-day, over-the-counter permits. Once a system is on the roof, the last step is for Xcel to add a second meter to measure the solar electricity it produces. Yechout said this can take 15 to 20 days. San Diego Gas & Electric has an online system where it can take as little as four days to complete the applications and interconnection, said Ken Parks, the utility's customer generation manager. "We have seen a dramatic growth in solar," Parks said. "We have to keep up." In 2012, the San Diego utility approved 5,200 solar arrays. It expects to approve more than 22,000 this year, Parks said. And when all the approvals are in and the panels are up, they are immediately plugged into the grid. "We don't have to add a meter," Parks said. "We have smart meters that we can program remotely, and then they are on."

Will Colorado Xcel Energy Coal Investments Become Stranded Assets?

A machine that no rational person wants to build is one that generates stranded assets — assets that become non-functional long before they have been paid for. Unfortunately, customers of Colorado's largest utility, Xcel, are bound to just such a "stranded asset machine," given the poor decisions that the Public Utilities Commission is allowing Xcel to make. Since the turn of this century, Xcel has spent about $1 billion on the Comanche 3 coal plant in Pueblo to serve the Denver-Boulder area, and now the PUC is turning a blind eye, yet again, while Xcel spends hundreds of millions of dollars on old Colorado coal plants in 2014 and 2015. Under the current system, Xcel fully expects its customers to not only pay for these coal plant expenditures, but to also provide Xcel a return of between 7 percent and 8 percent on the money. In addition, Xcel will pass 100 percent of future coal costs through to customers under the Electric Commodity Adjustment mechanism. This risk-free way of generating profit is good business as long as you can get the PUC to agree to it — which the PUC routinely does. The financial world is abuzz with discussions of "unburnable carbon" and the need to avoid investments in fossil fuel assets that are likely to become stranded given the urgency of addressing the climate crisis. None of this is being discussed as the Colorado PUC stands ready to approve hundreds of millions of dollars of expenditures on old Colorado coal plants as part of the ongoing Xcel rate case. The PUC seems to have an unspoken rule that when you walk through the doors of the commission, all discussion and concerns about the planet and unburnable carbon will be left at the door. In the 21st century, that is not only unconscionable, it is also leading Colorado into a very risky economic situation. Even if there were no concerns about climate change, ocean acidification, boiling off Colorado's precious water supplies to produce electricity, or the copious amounts of air, water and coal ash pollution created by coal plants, it still would be a bad idea to allow large investments in coal plants in the 21st century. First of all, as the costs for wind and solar plummet and storage technologies evolve rapidly, the opportunity to move beyond coal for purely financial reasons becomes ever more viable. Second, resources built in this century should be extremely flexible in their operation to match the variable nature of the wind and solar that Colorado is so blessed with. Flexible is precisely what baseload coal plants are not — and we shouldn't be investing in them. Finally, coal plants need a supply of coal to operate and the truth about coal is that most of the U.S. coal that can be mined at a profit is gone. The U.S. coal industry is running seriously in the red, stock prices have cratered, the largest companies are facing billions of dollars of debt and Wall Street has largely left the U.S. coal industry for dead. Consequently, it is completely unclear who will be mining U.S. coal in the coming years and decades — what's less for the five more decades that Xcel's Comanche 3 coal plant is scheduled to operate. Spending money on coal plants in light of these harsh realities is the height of economic (to say nothing of planetary) folly — but that is exactly what the Colorado PUC is letting Colorado's largest utility do. While the PUC is firmly keeping its eyes covered and its ears plugged to the realities of the 21st century, it is long past time that the state's economic and political leaders took a hard look at the facts that the PUC is ignoring and put an end to Colorado's stranded asset machine.

COSEIA Launches Solar CitiSuns Advocacy Group

Recently at the Colorado Solar Energy industries Association’s (COSEIA’s) Conference: 2015 Solar Power Colorado: The Next 25 Years the organization introduced its new grassroots nonprofit Solar CitiSuns. The new nonprofit is aimed at engaging Coloradans in advocating for clean energy policy and making sure solar remains a viable industry in the state. It was a public unveiling of the new nonprofit, which was first introduced last November. “Without the grassroots support of citizens we don’t have the momentum behind us to advance such policy,” said COSEIA Board President Piper Foster, a vice president at Amaris Controls. “So this year the COSIEA Board of Directors voted to inaugurate a new non-profit for the purpose of cultivating this solar grassroots activism called Solar CitiSuns.” Solar on a home. Courtesy Solar CitiSuns “Stable solar policy is incredibly important to our industry,” said COSEIA Board member T.J. Slocum, a regional sales manager with Sunrun. He observed that in the last year there were at least 21 battles against net-metering across the country. “We won 20 out of 21 of those disputes.” The new nonprofit is based on COSEIA’s previous Million Solar Roofs campaign and is organized to engage Colorado’s residents in a way that COSEIA isn’t. “We’ve organized and had people come out to support solar but its always been a little bit difficult doing that through a network of companies and making sure we’re getting the message out clearly,” Slocum said. He added, “It’s not necessarily appropriate for people to be a member of a business association. Solar CitiSuns, Slocum said, is a way to engage interested people in what’s happening with policy in solar in general. “We’ll have a membership base that’s going to receive a quarterly newsletter and…they can become part of an engaged online community that we can call to action if we need to and get people involved,” he said. The organization started with $3,500 in seed funding at a party in Colorado Springs in November. It has a site at www.gosolarcolorado.org where people can sign up for quarterly newsletters and learn about solar legislation and advocacy efforts.

Grand Junction Community solar garden makes major financial impact

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. A one of a kind energy project in Grand Junction has been in the works for three years and it's now proving to be worth the wait. The solar garden - located on D 1/4 Road - is one of, if not the biggest, in Colorado. With 6,666 solar panels spread across 10 acres of land, it's contributing more than just bragging rights for the county. The solar garden has contributed $70,000 worth of energy to District 51 in the short time it's been up and running. The structure is responsible for powering 25-percent of the school district making District 51 one of the most energy efficient districts in the state. District 51 energy manager Eric Anderson said, "We're doing what we can to conserve energy - to use renewable power where we can - and do that in a way that's efficient and effective." District 51 isn't the only one benefiting. Other entities including governmental, non-governmental, low income and residential areas are taking part in the available renewable energy. Anderson said $50,000 worth of bill credits were expected to come from the garden within the first year, but just in the last couple of months they've already calculated $25,000 worth of credits - so the garden is well on its way to beating that original goal.

Solar Leaders Look Ahead At COSEIA's Solar Power Colorado 2015

The theme of the Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association's (COSEIA) Solar Power Colorado 2015 conference ostensibly was celebrating the last-quarter century and looking forward to the next one. Most of the industry experts seemed to agree that the outlook extending to 2040 is positive. There was a lot of discussion, however, on how to make it through the next few years, first. "We need to have a bigger vision of the future," said Hank Price, chief technology officer of Abengoa Solar and a member of the opening session panel for solar CEOs and executives. "We need to move the discussion to what is the long-term vision for energy for Colorado, for the country and for the world, what is the path to achieve that, is solar the right technology, and does it have a key role to play." Price added that the developer is already looking beyond 2016 and the end of the federal investment tax credit (ITC). "It takes us longer than two years to build a plant," he said. "So, we are in the post-ITC world." Panel moderator K.K. DuVivier, a University of Denver law professor, started the session by asking what it will take for solar to become the primary energy source. Glen Davis, CEO of RES Americas, said cost and system reliability give solar an advantage. Other factors that can help solar include battery companies developing better storage technologies and a shift from centralized to decentralized decision=making in energy generation. "One of the things about PV is modularity," Davis said. "Whether you build on a roof or you have hundreds of modules in a field, you are not losing economies of scale by going smaller." There are still some challenges, said Paul Spencer, founder and CEO of the community solar developer Clean Energy Collective. “Equipment is down in price and up in efficiency," he said. "That’s a great trend but a smaller piece of the pie in terms of the overall cost of solar. The other costs, such as design, interconnection, permitting, legal fees and finance costs, still need to decrease." One factor that Spencer said is not a threat - although it has gained some attention - is falling oil prices. Most states do not burn oil for electricity, so the only effect oil prices will have will be in shipping costs. Carbon pricing is important though, said Lou Villaire, co-owner of the installer Atlasta Solar Center. "We need to stop fossil fuel companies from polluting for free," he said. Customers of the installer often say they want solar because they want to reduce carbon emissions. "Whatever reason you want to do solar is fine with us," Villaire said. "People want a radically different energy portfolio than they have today." People also want solar installations on their homes to positively affect resale values. Villaire noted that it helps that real estate appraisers are gaining knowledge of how to value a residential solar installation. Community effort Of course, not everyone wants solar on their home, so community solar gardens were a major topic at the conference. During one community solar panel, J.W. Postal, senior vice president of the community solar company SunShare, said he expects the Colorado Community Solar Gardens program, which was created by legislation in 2010, to be expanded. "Community solar has an opportunity to be a game-changer," he said. "All citizens can participate. Consumers will choose the better fuel. That’s the future. It may be disruptive to some businesses, but that’s where the world is headed." Community solar programs are an example of states taking an increasingly important role in solar development opportunities, either through regulation or legislation. "I don’t trust the federal Congress to get anything done, so it comes down to the states," said Jared Schoch, principal at Turning Point Energy, a development, investment and advisory firm. "We can look at rates, from commercial, residential and community solar, and how to make the rate structure work so customers want to do solar. If not, I think we will have a shakeup in 2017. I don’t see us getting around it." The states’ efforts can be a positive force, said Mark Safty, a partner with the law firm Holland and Hart. "There is tremendous justification for hope in this area," he said. "We have a federal government that has certain powers, then 50 states that are generally free, which means at least 50 laboratories for rollout and deployment of this change." Colorado is doing its part with rolling out changes. At another session on solar financing models, speakers covered topics such as power purchase agreements for residential customers, property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing, green banks, credit unions and other methods to finance projects. Moderator Ryan Arney, a partner with the law firm Davis Graham & Stubbs, invited panelists to look at the future of finance. One tool might be a new version of PACE financing, which helps building owners pay for energy improvements. PACE for residential solar installations ended in 2010 with the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s rule against the program, although these have been coming back to life, led by efforts in California. Paul Sharfenberger, director of finance and operations for the Colorado Energy Office, said Colorado is getting ready to roll out a commercial real estate version of PACE financing this spring. Connecticut has a commercial version called C-PACE, and New York has the Energize Commercial New York program. "You have building owners who are paying utility bills, but the tenants are enjoying the benefits," Sharfenberger said. "Commercial PACE offers benefits that commercial property owners can pursue. It stays with the property; it's 20-year financing at six or seven percent interest, which is fairly commensurate with other commercial lending products." There are other alternatives, such as credit unions and green banks, said Blake Jones, president of Namaste Solar. But one finance issue must be settled first and foremost: "The number one thing I want is defending net metering," Jones said. "Plain and simple."

Rollback of renewable-energy standards dies in Colorado Legislature

An effort to roll back Colorado's renewable energy standard in the state Legislature died Monday in a House of Representatives committee. Democrats on the House State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee voted on a party line over Republican objections to kill Senate Bill 44. The bill, which passed the Republican-majority Senate last month, would have cut the minimum portfolio of energy the state's investor-owned utilities would have to obtain from renewable sources from 30 percent back to 15 percent by 2020, and it would have reduced the same standards for cooperative electric associations from 20 percent to 15 percent. Sponsoring state Rep. Dan Thurlow, R-Grand Junction, said the standards have helped to create a thriving renewable-energy industry but also have raised energy prices considerably in Colorado — to the point where companies are looking twice at the cost of locating here. "If we're trying to attract businesses, one of the biggest things we can do is give them a low cost structure," Thurlow said. But environmentalists and renewable-energy leaders argued that the rollback would send the wrong message about the state's commitment to clean power and that it could hurt a solar-energy industry that now employs 4,200 people in this state. "I'm sending you a message: The business community is very supportive of the renewable energy standard as it stands and does not support a rollback," said Roger Freeman, a partner at Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP in Denver and policy chairman for the Colorado Cleantech Industries Association, who noted that no utilities came to testify for the bill.

Appraising Solar Energy’s Value - Solar Panels and Home Values

New research sponsored by the Department of Energy shows that buyers are willing to pay more for homes with rooftop solar panels — a finding that may strengthen the case for factoring the value of sustainable features into home appraisals. The study, conducted by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California, examined sales data for almost 23,000 homes in eight states from 2002 to 2013. About 4,000 of the homes had solar photovoltaic systems, all of them owned (as opposed to being financed through a lease with the solar company). Researchers found that buyers were willing to pay a premium of $15,000 for a home with the average-size solar photovoltaic system (3.6 kilowatts, or 3,600 watts), compared with a similar home without one. Put another way, that translates to about four additional dollars per watt of solar power. The study involved more solar property sales than previous research, making this sample particularly “robust,” said Sandra Adomatis, an appraiser in Punta Gorda, Fla., who is considered an expert in “green” valuation and is one of the study’s authors. “This study is important for the buying public and the lending side,” Ms. Adomatis said, “and appraisers can say, here’s some proof there is some value to the system.” More homeowners have been installing these systems as the cost of solar technology has dropped over the last decade. As of mid-2014, more than a half-million homes had solar systems, according to the report. Real estate agents, appraisers and lenders are still trying to catch up with the technology, along with other energy-saving features, in terms of calculating their effect on home values — or lack thereof — in any given market. Fannie Mae has acknowledged the growing proliferation of solar. In December, the government-sponsored institution issued a guideline specifying that if a house has an owned solar system, the appraiser should analyze the system and the market to see if it adds value. The guideline provides “critical verbiage to give us some leverage” with lenders, said Gerard O’Connor, an appraiser in Lindenhurst, on Long Island, who has been trained in green valuation. Long Island’s high electric costs have made it an attractive market for solar. About 40 percent of all systems installed in New York are on Long Island, according to the state’s Energy Research and Development Authority. Buyers are “certainly willing to pay more” for a house with the electric bills to prove the savings attached to its solar system, Mr. O’Connor said. But, he added, most lenders haven’t yet recognized that market shift. Continue reading the main storyContinue reading the main story Arthur Wilson, a builder developing five homes (all presold) with geothermal and solar panels in Middle Island on Long Island, has had his own issues with lenders. He said that an appraisal of $498,000 for the second house to be completed was recently “shot down” as too high by bank reviewers who he said were untrained in valuing green home features. The lender asked Mr. O’Connor to look at the appraisal, and he said that he believed it was accurate in estimating the value of energy-saving features. “Any new item or feature is always a nightmare in appraising,” Mr. O’Connor said. He noted that, under the new Fannie Mae guideline, appraisers may not add value for leased solar systems, which are increasingly popular because they usually require no money upfront. The Berkeley lab report notes that more research is needed into the effect of leased systems on home value.

Senate Republicans advance renewable energy standard rollback

Colorado State Senate Republicans on Thursday passed a bill that would roll back Colorado’s 2013 Renewable Energy Standard on a party-line 18-17 vote. The measure, SB 44, reduces the requirement to 15 percent of all power generation by 2020. It would mean lowering the bar for clean energy sources 50 percent for large utilities and 25 percent for rural electric cooperatives. The existing standard is 30 percent for large utilities and 20 percent for rural cooperatives. Sen. Ray Scott, R-Grand Junction, who sponsored the rollback, argued that the 30 percent standard moves beyond the realm of productive incentive and into the realm of consumer burden. “Rolling back these standards to a reasonable level makes a lot of sense for the people of Colorado,” said Scott. “We’ve done a great job but let’s not get carried away, let’s just leave it alone.” Sen. Matt Jones, D-Boulder, a co-sponsor of the measure that created the standard, vehemently disagreed. “Testimony on this [rollback] bill told us that we’re going to meet the standard and that it’s critical to keep it because renewables are a job creator and cheaper,” he said, pointing out that both large utilities like Xcel and providers for smaller rural cooperatives, like Tri-State, have been choosing wind and utility-scale solar over other energy bids not just because of the mandate but because they’re cheaper. The Renewable Energy Standard has been a political hot potato since it passed, part of a larger partisan war over energy policy pushed by campaigning politicians and messaging groups and fueled by campaign finance realities as well as “old Colorado” versus “new Colorado” economies. Mostly rural extraction industry loyalty, even nostalgia, is pitted against mostly Front Range clean-energy-industry futuristic enthusiasm. On the floor, Jones argued that the inclusion of wind has saved Xcel ratepayers $40 million dollars since 2009 and that the renewable standard has made Colorado the leading state in the nation for clean tech — a 22,000 job, $1.7 billion industry in the state. Sen. Tim Neville, R-Littleton, agreed the standard has seen Colorado move ahead of the pack — but mainly for ratcheting up the cost of energy. “We once had the lowest energy costs in the western United States… now we have the second highest energy rates in the western United States,” he said. On the contrary, said Sen. John Kefalas, D-Fort Collins. He said that, in his semi-rural district, expanded renewables have lead to some of the lowest rates in the state. In their back and forth about whether renewables are, in fact, cheaper, lawmakers bitterly argued over tax subsidies. The data they cited on subsidies seemed fungible. At least, they used it to support what they wanted to say. DBL Investors, a clean-and-high-tech venture capital firm, completed a study of a century worth of federal subsidies and found that, on a per-year average, fossil fuels have received about 13 times the amount of federal assistance renewable energy has received. Yes, maybe, said Scott, but in recent years the tables have turned. In 2010, he said, the Energy Information Association found that solar and coal were subsidized at roughly the same level, while wind received nearly four times the subsidies dolled out to coal. Another point of disagreement was about what Coloradan’s actually want. Unsurprisingly, lawmakers from rural, and particularly coal-driven, districts were adamant that the standard is at least indirectly tied to some of the recent, devastating mine-worker layoffs in counties like Delta. Rural-area Republicans resoundingly agreed, emphasizing that even slightly higher electricity costs have an outsized impact on profit-margins in agricultural industries. “We need to listen to the people of Colorado,” said Sen. Larry Crowder, R-Alamosa, who said that his constituents have seen steadily increasing electricity costs. But the Union of Concerned Scientists pointed to the bipartisan Colorado College 2014 Conservation in the West poll, which found whopping voter support for candidates who support renewables: Poll: 76% of Coloradans more likely to support candidates who promote renewable energy @ColoradoCollege https://t.co/c7MVQgwRdP #coleg

Utility industry needs a variety of investments - Will Coal Investments Become Stranded Assets?

The utility industry is changing. Anticipating and embracing that change is a key strategy for Xcel Energy. In this complex energy evolution, the dialogue needs to extend beyond just coal. Investments in the grid, energy infrastructure and technology are needed to support the integration of new energy sources. The recently proposed electric rate case settlement agreement allows Xcel Energy to begin recouping investments made in its state-approved Clean Air-Clean Jobs Act Plan. The $1 billion of investments will result in the retirement and replacement of older coal-fired plants and provide emission controls on remaining plants. By 2020, these efforts will result in an 80 percent reduction in sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and mercury emissions. It will enable the company to meet the EPA's overall targeted emission reduction levels 10 years early. The plan also contributes to the company's 35 percent planned reduction in carbon dioxide emissions in Colorado (compared to 2005 levels), while modernizing our power plants for the future. Xcel Energy supports renewable energy and the growing customer demand for it. This means investing in the most cost-effective renewable resources to keep energy prices affordable for everyone, without sacrificing reliability. Since 2010, the amount of solar on our Colorado system increased by more than 200 percent and wind has grown by more than 100 percent. Over 90 percent of the solar that exists in Colorado is on the Xcel Energy system. Our company has been the No. 1 provider of wind in the country for 10 consecutive years. Renewable energy sources are extremely valuable, yet intermittent. Without massive storage facilities, wind and solar resources need to be balanced with other generation sources so that power is there when our customers need it. This takes thought, sophisticated planning, and time to ensure reliability and affordable costs for our customers. David Eves is president and CEO of Public Service Company of Colorado, an Xcel Energy Company.

Black Hills agrees to solar owner refunds

Black Hills Colorado Electric is willing to refund $46,000 to about 850 local customers who have solar panels, but the utility is resisting a possible $165,000 fine by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission. The PUC, which oversees Colorado utilities, sent Black Hills a show cause letter on Jan. 21 that said the commission hadn’t authorized a $5 monthly fee being charged to customers with net meters — those that also measure power being generated by the customer’s solar panels. The PUC said Black Hills should refund that money and face the $165,000 fine as well. Black Hills answered the letter earlier this week, filing a proposed plan to erase the $5 fee and refund the $46,735 it generated since August 2013. But the utility disputes the fee was unauthorized. “We’ve reviewed the record of that rate case,” spokesman Brett Jones said Thursday. In related news, Black Hills offers payment help. Black Hills charges the fee to pay its costs for accepting electricity being generated by customers with solar panels, according to Jones. The commission threatened Black Hills with the fine in January, saying there were records of 9,000 billings that included the $5 fee. While the PUC can fine the utility up to $2,000 per offense, state law caps any total fine at $165,000 by law. If Black Hills pays any fine within 10 days, it can be cut by 50 percent. The $5 fee became an issue in December when an energy analyst for Western Resource Advocates, Gwen Farnsworth, was researching Black Hills rates and said she could find no authorization for that monthly charge. She notified the PUC staff and the commission agreed with the complaint, sending the show cause letter on Jan. 21.

Don’t change our state’s renewable energy standards

It is very disappointing to watch our newly elected state Senator attack Colorado’s renewable energy standards. He mistakenly thinks these clean energy standards are detrimental to Colorado. What about our children and grandchildren? Do they not have the right to enjoy our beautiful state the way we do? If we don’t step up to combat climate change, future generations will be harmed far more than we can even imagine. Clean energy policies, such as Colorado’s Renewable Energy Standard, are significantly cutting emissions of carbon pollution — the leading cause of global warming — according to a new report by Environment Colorado Research & Policy Center. The report, Moving America Forward, showed that Colorado’s Renewable Energy Standard saved 3.7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere in 2012. That is comparable to the annual emissions from over 750,000 cars. This effort is building a strong clean energy economy and is helping us break our dangerous addiction to fossil fuels. Colorado has been a leader in clean energy action for years and we must continue this leadership. Clean energy benefits our economy and environment. The protections of these standards safeguard future Coloradans’ quality of life. Don’t jeopardize those qualities that make Colorado so special. Join me in asking our elected representatives to resist any rollbacks in our renewable energy standards. RICK BAER Grand Junction

Xcel Energy says proposed giant solar gardens don't look like 'community' projects

Xcel Energy Inc. warned state regulators Tuesday that a state-mandated solar garden program is encouraging large-scale projects that benefit commercial-industrial customers, but could sock all ratepayers with higher electric bills. When the utility opened the door to solar gardens in December, renewable energy developers proposed more than 400 projects, each with an output of 1 million watts. But Xcel officials said most of the proposals are concentrated fields of solar panels 10 times that size — with the electricity marketed to large businesses. “The statute has a 1-megawatt limit,” Chris Clark, president of Xcel’s Minnesota regional operations, said in an interview. “Most of the projects are a 1-megawatt garden next to a 1-megawatt garden next to a 1-megawatt garden.” Solar gardens are centrally located solar arrays whose output is shared by subscribers who pay an upfront or monthly payment to the developer. A 2013 state law requires Xcel Energy to set up the program, and the utility has publicly endorsed it. Under tariffs established by the state Public Utilities Commission, the solar power is sold to Xcel at above retail rates, resulting in a savings to participants, but at a cost to all customers. So far, no solar gardens have been approved by Xcel. That process is expected to take several weeks. In the meantime, the utility serving 1.2 million electric customers asked the PUC to take another look at the solar garden rules. Xcel said in a regulatory filing that energy developers proposing large solar gardens are “skirting” the typically ­competitive process used for big generating projects. Instead, solar developers stand to benefit from a rate structure “intended for small-scale development,” Xcel said. If all of the projects are built, it could add $50 million to all customers’ rates, Xcel said. That would be a 1.5 percent hike to all residential customers bills and up to 1.8 percent to commercial-industrial customers, Xcel said. “We are seeing the gardens being targeted to large commercial and industrial customers, which is not what we had anticipated,” Clark said. “We had envisioned more neighborhood-type gardens where neighbors in the community, nonprofits or a church or something would have a garden. We envisioned something that was different.” In January, Ecolab Inc., a Fortune 500 company based in St. Paul, said it would subscribe to community solar gardens to offset all of its Minnesota electrical needs — and save money while doing it. Clark said other large Xcel customers have told the utility that they’re being pitched solar garden deals. David Amster-Olszewski, CEO of SunShare, a Colorado solar garden developer, said Xcel has done a good job setting up the program. “This will spur a good discussion,” he said after reading the regulatory filing. He said SunShare’s proposed projects range in size from 1 megawatt to 9 megawatts. While the company is seeking large industrial customers as “anchors” in solar gardens, the goal is to sign up residential, small business and other customers as it has done on similar projects in Colorado, he added. Amster-Olszewski said about half of the 430 proposed Minnesota projects probably won’t get built, so the effect on rates won’t be as dire as Xcel suggested in its filing. Michael Noble, executive director of Fresh Energy, a St. Paul nonprofit that pushed for the solar garden program, said Xcel shouldn’t be surprised that energy developers are choosing the least expensive approach to solar — large, concentrated projects on inexpensive land on the fringe of the metro area. “The whole idea of community solar is that anybody who wanted solar could get it,” he said. “You didn’t have to have a sunny roof. You didn’t have an expensive solar system on your business. You could get the economies of scale at the lowest possible cost and get credit on your bill.”

NRG Energy to Sell Solar Directly to Consumers in Colorado

NRG Energy Inc. will sell solar power directly to consumers in Colorado as part of a push into renewable energy. NRG, the nation’s largest independent power producer, will join with SunShare LLC to build five so-called community solar projects in Denver and Colorado Springs, the companies said Wednesday. Under this model, anyone can get power from the sun even if they don’t have a good roof for panels. “These types of programs, whether with homeowners, commercial businesses or municipalities, allow us to democratize participation in renewable power consumption,” NRG Senior Vice President Craig Cornelius said in a phone interview. Colorado, which has one of the nation’s most aggressive renewable energy standards, was the first state to allow private developers to create community solar gardens in 2010. Unlike other large solar installations, which usually provide power to utilities, community projects sell directly to consumers who get a credit on their bills. The number of these types of solar farms has increased 64 percent since 2013, according to a Sept. 2014 report by the Solar Electric Power Association. NRG’s expansion into solar comes as its conventional fossil-fuel power business faces declining demand growth. Some consumers are opting for technologies that allow them to produce their own electricity. Solar-generated electricity has become increasingly attractive to customers as the price of panels have plunged by nearly two-thirds since 2011. ‘Untapped Opportunity’ With 75 percent of U.S. homeowners unable to install panels on their rooftops, community solar represents a “largely untapped opportunity,” said Cory Honeyman, an analyst with GTM Research. Utilities in 21 states now offer community solar programs, according to GTM. The Colorado installations will provide 8.2 megawatts of power, enough for 1,600 homes, and are expected to be operating by the middle of the year, NRG said. Customers, mostly businesses and municipalities, will sign a 20-year agreement to get electricity from the ground-mounted panels. NRG is providing the financing and will be the majority owner while SunShare will manage the customer contracts, the companies said. The projects could be dropped down into NRG Yield, a separately-traded unit that holds renewable-power plants, Cornelius said. NRG, based in Princeton, New Jersey, plans to bring these types of projects to other states, including Minnesota and Massachusetts, Cornelius said.

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

Leaders in solar business, policy and technology will be speaking later this 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 delighted that inspirational leaders in the solar industry from around the nation are coming to engage in stimulating conversation that we hope will lead to great insights into the best path forward,’’ said Rebecca Cantwell, executive director of COSEIA. 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 utility leaders including Marc Romito, renewable energy program manager for Arizona Public Service, Beth Chacon of Xcel Energy, 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 executives David Freeman and Julie Blunden 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 moderated by Rick Gilliam of Vote Solar looking at state policies will feature Jacqueline Patterson, Director, Environmental and Climate Justice Program of the NAACP, along with Wirth Chair at CU Mark Safty and speakers from SunShare, Fort Collins Utilities and more. Climate Change policy is on the minds of everyone from the President to the United Nations and the our panel will feature top experts on national, state and global policy including leading climate scientist Kevin Trenberth from NCAR, John Jimison of the Energy Future Coalition, and Laura Farris of the EPA. New solar financing models are cropping up for solar energy systems both big and small, and our panel of experts will include top Colin Murchie of Sol Systems and Blake Jones of Namaste Solar, along with experts from the Colorado Energy Office and NREL. 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; Vince Guthrie of Ft. Carson, 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, the President of VaporGenics. John Perlin, author of Let It Shine: The 6000 year story of Solar Energy will be the luncheon speaker on Feb. 25. 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, Solectira, eGauge and many more. Visit 2015 Solar Power Colorado Exhibitors to see our current list of exhibiting companies from around the country.

Don't hobble Colorado renewable energy rules

By just about every metric imaginable, Colorado's renewable energy standard has been a success. It has created jobs in the wind and solar industries. It has provided additional income for rural landowners. It has reduced the reliance on fossil fuels for electricity generation at a reasonable cost. What's not to love? Several GOP lawmakers have found something, it would seem. Last week, they used a 5-4 majority in a state Senate committee to advance Senate Bill 44, which would reduce the portion of energy generated from renewables. It would cut in half the 30 percent renewable requirement that investor-owned utilities, such as Xcel, would have to meet by 2020. It would also bust down the standard for rural electric associations from 20 to 15 percent from 2020 onward. In addition, Senate Bill 46, scheduled to be heard this week, would reduce the amount of energy rural co-ops are required to generate from what is called "distributed generation." In short, that is energy generated on the customer side of the meter. Neither of these bills is in the best interest of Colorado, which has been a leader in renewable energy development. The industry provides thousands of jobs for installers, manufacturers and maintenance, argues Pete Maysmith, executive director of Conservation Colorado. Maysmith said it's disappointing that the issue of clean energy development, which traditionally has enjoyed bipartisan support in Colorado, has become partisan. Furthermore, it would seem to be detrimental to constituencies that Republicans consider their own. Former Gov. Bill Ritter Jr. told us that the standard has been a boon to farmers and ranchers, who typically get $4,000 to $6,000 in annual lease payments for each wind turbine located on their land. Those payments can provide a buffer during lean years. It seems that rolling back renewable standards is popular in state legislatures. Last year, there were 14 rollback bills proposed around the country, with two of them passing, according to an analysis done by the Center for the New Energy Economy at Colorado State University. It's not unusual for such ideas to make the rounds, often pitched by one interest group or another. The sheer volume, however, doesn't make them good ideas. In fact, we would argue to the contrary in Colorado's case — and hope lawmakers keep the standards in place unchanged.

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!

Why 2015 Will Be the Year of Solar Energy

Whether you realize it or not, solar energy is becoming a more and more important part of our energy future. In 2013, 29 percent of new electricity-generating capacity in the U.S. was solar energy, and so far in 2014, 36 percent of new capacity is solar. Falling costs and improving technology will drive wider adoption, and 2015 could be a tipping point, bringing the solar industry to new parts of the country. The Year Solar Caught On in the U.S. 2014 has been the start of consumers and utilities alike understanding the positive impact solar can make. GTM Research expects about 6.5 GW of solar energy to be installed in the U.S. in 2014, enough to power nearly 1.1 million homes. But over half of those installations fall in a relatively small area in California and Arizona, so this isn't a nationwide trend -- yet. And 2015 Is a Tipping Point It's possible that 2015 will be the first year in which over half of new electricity generation capacity in the U.S. will come from solar. It's also likely that the industry will start to solve its intermittency issue, installing energy storage in a growing percentage of homes that decide to go solar. Both would be big milestones for the industry. The potential growth for the solar industry isn't measured in billions of dollars, it's measured in trillions, and in 2015 we'll begin to see the industry's leaders take a larger role in our overall energy future and spread their wings across the country. Like it or not, solar energy is coming to a town near you.

New Report Shows Residential Solar in Colorado Up 30%

Demonstrating continued support for clean, renewable energy, residential solar installations in Colorado in Q3 were up more than 30 percent over the same period last year, according to the new quarterly report from GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). The Solar Market Insight Report found that as of Q3 2014 more than 20,000 Colorado homes have "gone solar," along with more than 1,500 Colorado businesses. "Time and time again, Coloradans have demonstrated their commitment to clean, renewable solar energy and exercised their right to choose their energy source," said Rhone Resch, president and CEO of SEIA. "In the past year, the cost of solar in Colorado has fallen 17 percent - largely due to smart and effective public policies, such as the solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), Net Energy Metering (NEM) and Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS)." In 2013, $233 million was invested in Colorado to install solar on homes and businesses, and there are more than 327 solar companies at work throughout the value chain in the state, employing 3,600 Coloradoans. The 376 MW of solar energy currently installed in Colorado ranks the state 8th in the country in installed solar capacity. There is enough solar energy installed in the state to power 68,600 homes. Nationwide, the solar industry employs 143,000 Americans and pumps nearly billion a year into the U.S. economy. But solar also benefits the environment. "The 17,500 megawatts of solar energy currently installed across the United States can generate enough pollution-free electricity to displace 20 billion pounds of coal or 2.2 billion gallons of gasoline," Resch added. "That's the equivalent of removing 4.3 million passenger cars from our roads and highways. Every 3 minutes of every single day, the U.S. solar industry is helping to fight the battle against damaging carbon emissions by flipping the switch on another completed solar project."

Environmental Group Calls On Colorado To Aim Higher To Achieve More Aggressive Solar Growth

Colorado could get 20% of its energy from solar power by 2025. That's according to a new report by Environment Colorado Research and Policy Center, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting the state's air, water and open spaces. Kim Stevens, campaign director of the Denver-based advocacy group, says it is a lofty goal, given that solar power is currently less than 1% of electricity generation nationwide. Still, she maintains the solar increase is both possible and necessary. "We are feeling the effects of the changing climate - with drought and wildfires - and last year, we saw historic flooding," Stevens says. "Scientists say it will become more severe. We have the solution here, which is solar power. We know we can do more." AET Energy_id1092 The report authors cited statistics from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) noting that Colorado has more than 500,000 residential and commercial rooftops that could host solar panels. Also according to NREL, the sunny state has the technical potential to meet its energy needs 360 times over. At the end of 2013, Colorado was the eighth-ranked state in total installed solar capacity. Adding to these positives, the price of solar has decreased, and the public's favorable opinion of solar has increased. That means, the report indicated, the obstacles to increasing solar power are systemic and political. Efforts to go solar have been pushed back by forces ranging from powerful fossil fuel interests, to local governments that have not made it easier for homeowners to install solar, to utilities not fully participating in solar efforts. "The technology is there," Stevens says. "We just need the policies to get the ball rolling and carve the way for solar." The report recommends that the state, municipalities and utilities should maintain strong net-metering programs, promote community solar and virtual net-metering, facilitate third-party sales of solar power for solar leasing programs, and invest in a more intelligent electric grid that will enable distributed solar to play a larger role. Also, the report says, the U.S. federal government should commit to a baseline goal of obtaining at least 10% of the nation's electricity from solar energy by 2030. The government should do this by continuing to install solar on government buildings and also by building solar on public lands. The government should also strengthen and finalize the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Clean Power Plan, which proposes to cut carbon pollution from power plants 30% from 2005 levels. There are many different tools that can help states attain carbon reduction goals, Stevens says. "Here in Colorado, the huge solar potential would help us to get our state more than halfway to the benchmark that the EPA sets." Stevens acknowledges that November was an interesting time to release the report because there was no relevant pending legislation that might move the state toward the solar or the Clean Power Plan goals. Still, Environment Colorado hopes legislators will take note. "We are trying to get the state government to commit to this goal," she says. Environment Colorado has been working with small business owners, local elected officials, farmers and ranchers to call on state officials. "We have been doing the groundwork," Stevens says. "The next step is working with the governor's office and with the legislature." The report, "Star Power: The Growing Role of Solar Energy in Colorado," by Judee Burr and Lindsey Hallock, from the Santa Barbara, Calif.-based research firm Frontier Group; and Rob Sargent from Environment America, a group of state-based environmental advocacy organizations, is available here.

Colorado PUC rejects Xcel Solar Connect plan over competition concerns

Xcel Energy's bid to create a premium solar energy program — potentially in competition with solar installers — was rejected Monday by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission. Under the proposed Solar Connect program, customers would pay Xcel, the state's largest electricity provider, a premium on their bills to support solar projects. The company said this would enable those who can't have solar panels on their roofs to support solar energy. "We are disappointed with the commission's decision today," the company said in a statement. "We thought that Solar Connect could bring a solar product to consumers in Colorado that do not currently have the option to install solar panels." In a filing, the PUC staff recommended rejecting the program, saying Solar Connect would "have an unfair competitive advantage" over home rooftop solar and community solar garden programs. PUC chairman Josh Epel said Monday that the commission has to make sure that solar proposals are "in harmony and not in conflict." Solar industry executives and advocates had also voiced concerns about Solar Connect. "We applaud the PUC decision," said Rebecca Cantwell, executive director of the Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association. "We think they got it right. Solar Connect as proposed just had too many unresolved issues."

New study anticipates rapid solar energy growth in Colorado

According to a new report just released by The Environment Colorado Research & Policy Center, Colorado should build on the recent growth in solar energy by setting a goal of obtaining at least 20 percent of its electricity from solar power by 2025. Colorado currently sits seventh in the nation in solar power generation. The report states that the United States now has enough solar electric capacity installed to power more than 3.2 million homes, and that the amount of solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity in the U.S. has tripled in the past two years. To reach the goal of Colorado generating 20 percent of its electricity via solar by 2025, solar PV installations would have to continue to increase at least 30 percent annually between now and 2025. If the past is any sign, Colorado should have no problem reaching its goal. Between 2010 and 2013, solar capacity in Colorado increased at an annual rate of 44 percent. The report also urges the federal government to commit to a baseline goal of obtaining at least 10 percent of the nation’s electricity via solar by 2030. Here are the top reasons why Colorado must increase its solar energy use, according to the report: Producing 20 percent of its electricity from clean, solar power would reduce Colorado’s global warming pollution by more than 7 million metric tons in 2025—the equivalent of taking 1.6 million cars off the road. Expanding solar energy will also reduce emissions of pollutants that contribute to the formation of smog and soot and threaten public health, especially children. Obtaining 20 percent of Colorado’s electricity from solar energy would reduce water consumption from power plants dramatically by using a life-cycle assessment. Solar energy creates local, clean energy jobs that can’t be outsourced. 3,600 Coloradoans worked in the solar industry in 2013.