Colorado Solar Power (In Depth)

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Originally published on Cost of Solar.

Although snowbound in winter, Colorado is also famous for its sunny skies. In fact, Pueblo Colorado ties 7th place as the sunniest US city, according to NOAA’s annual average % possible sunshine ranking, with an average of 76%. Only Arizona, California, Nevada, and Texas have sunnier cities.

It’s no wonder, then, that Colorado ranks high in the US for installed solar energy capacity. According to the US Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), Colorado ranks #9 in its ranking of the top 10 states for total installed solar capacity. Growing 117% over 2014, 146 megawatts (MW) of solar were installed in 2015 alone, making Colorado’s current total 599 MW.

colorado-solar-energy
Colorado ranks number 9 in SEIA’s Top 10 States for total installed solar capacity. Credit: SEIA.org

At 599 MW, this is enough solar energy installed in Colorado to power 114,000 homes. SEIA projects that, over the next 5 years, Colorado will install another 1,878 MW of solar capacity, more than 5 times the amount of solar installed in Colorado in the last 5 years. Over 382 companies contribute to the full value chain in Colorado’s solar market, employing nearly 5,000 people.

Following solar investments in the state, $305 million was invested in solar installation during 2015, representing a 44% increase over 2014. Significant growth in solar investments in Colorado for 2016 is also expected.

Google map of solar providers in Colorado. Click image for interactive map at SEIA.org
Google map of solar providers in Colorado. Click image for interactive map at SEIA.org

Currently, Xcel Energy has around 370 MW of Colorado’s 599 MW solar power on its system, and approximately 230 MW of that comes from rooftop PV systems. This high percentage of power gives Xcel Energy quite an advantage when it comes to driving Colorado’s solar rates and policies. In the past few years, Xcel has been beating the war drums, attempting to persuade Colorado’s Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to reduce benefits being realized by rooftop solar customers.

In August 2015, solar advocates in Colorado believed their latest troubles were finally over when a year-long debate over net metering ended with no rate reductions. But it was clear the fight was not yet over when Xcel introduced a proposed grid-use fee last spring. Arranged on a sliding scale, the proposed fee ranged from $2.62 per month for customers using fewer than 200 kWh per month, to $44.79 for consumption of 1,401 kWh or more per month. It also proposed lowering the customers’ volumetric charge to help offset the fixed cost increase.

Solar proponents rallied once again and argued that “the rate proposal would undermine the economic benefits of installing residential solar by introducing an unavoidable fee and lowering the per-kilowatt-hour charge, which decreases the net metering credit solar customers receive for excess electricity sent back to the grid.”

Current Solar Costs in Colorado

The SEIA reports that installed solar PV system prices in the US have dropped by 12% from last year and 66% from 2010. In 2016, the latest data indicates that the average installed cost of solar in the US is just below $3.50/watt for residential and $2.00/watt for commercial installations.

Of course, everyone’s needs are unique, so it is always best to get a personalized solar quote, but at $3.50/watt, this means that in Colorado it currently costs about $17,500 to buy an average-size (5 kW) system. The federal ITC of 30% will reduce this out-of-pocket cost by about $5,250, and you can expect an additional savings of about $1,224/yr ($102/mo) in estimated energy savings. This total reduction works out to be about $6,474, so the first-year cost of installing a 5 kW solar PV system would be around $11,026.

Granted, the monthly energy savings estimate is based on 2011 data, but over the course of 20 years this still works out to be about $24,480, or a net gain of about $12,230 for a 5 kW system installed in 2016. That’s a great return on your investment and we didn’t even calculate the additional gain you might make selling your excess electricity back to the utility under Colorado’s current net metering rate of $0.1243 kWh according to EIA!

And what’s more, even if you don’t stay in your home for the full 20 years, the sales value of your home increases significantly from the first moment your solar system is installed. According to a study by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), every kilowatt of solar installed on your roof will increase your home’s sales value by an average of $5,911. A 5 kW system will add $29,555 to your home’s value, so even if you sell after one year, you could potentially pay off your ($11,026) solar system and still make $18,529 on your investment!

Colorado’s Enlightened Future With Community Solar Gardens

As an enlightened source of energy in a nation increasingly challenging consumers of solar power, Colorado is blazing a bright path to a clean, renewables future. It’s been blazing this trail since 2004, as the first state to adopt a Renewable Energy Standard. Tirelessly carving a trail through political skirmishes and scuffles, Colorado has served as a solar energy guide to new business models — most recently becoming a pioneer in the shared solar energy market.

In January 2016, the Colorado Energy Office (CEO) and GRID Alternatives launched a pilot optimizing the community solar model to reduce energy costs for low-income customers. The pilot proposed five demonstration projects, building a total of 579 kW of shared solar, or community solar gardens (CSGs).

Colorado Energy Office Director Jeff Ackermann stated, “Colorado has always been a leader in renewable energy, and now we take another innovative step forward as we create community solar models that are more affordable and available to Colorado rural electric cooperatives and the low-income communities they serve.”

CSGs provide access to solar energy generation for renters, people living in multi-family housing, or who are not able to take advantage of solar for any number of other reasons, including roof conditions and shady locations, but especially low income.

And, if approved by Colorado’s PUC, VoteSolar’s Rick Gilliam noted, the recent settlement agreement reached this past August will significantly expand solar access across the state, especially among low-income consumers.

The new settlement will add to Colorado’s already successful CSG shared solar program in several key ways, including that Xcel will take on a 5% low-income participation requirement and there will also be an incremental 4 MW/year CSG program offering 100% low-income participation.

Gilliam explained, “Affordable solar offers an exciting opportunity to address some of the biggest financial and health challenges facing low-income families.”

Today, according to Shared Renewables HQ, 14 states and Washington, DC have policies in place for shared renewables and CSGs, and many more states are working to expand access to shared renewable energy resources.

Check out this quick Youtube clip from Colorado News Channel 13 about Colorado’s Solar Gardens:

Colorado’s Celebrated Solar Settlement of August 2016 (Warning: #InsideSolarBaseball)

Finally reaching a settlement agreement in August 2016, the Xcel’s proposed grid fee was killed and net metering was once again saved from manipulation. Instead, according to the settlement, the utility “will institute time-of-use rates on a trial basis in anticipation of moving to time-of-use rates as the default rate design for residential customers.”

The time-of-use (TOU) rate pilot proposes to help Xcel assign an appropriate value for electricity that is produced when it’s most valuable. New voluntary programs will be offered to up to 20,000 customers in 2017. In 2018, it will be extended to 34,000 customers, and to 48,000 customers in 2019. The results of the pilot program will be studied for broad implementation of TOU rates in 2020.

More than 24 parties signed on to the agreement, including Colorado Public Utilities Commission staff; the Office of Consumer Counsel; several clean energy, consumer, and environmental groups; Walmart; VoteSolar; and the Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association (COSEIA).

COSEIA Board President John Bringenberg stated, “This settlement signals cooperation rather than confrontation, which COSEIA believes is the most productive way to advance solar, allow citizens and companies to own clean energy rather than rent dirty fossil fuel, and impact catastrophic climate change.” He noted, “We must work with Xcel and other stakeholders to support the competitive solar industry.”

The CPUC is expected to make a final decision on the settlement filing by the end of 2016. It is not unanimously supported, and some groups that signed on have requested some changes. For example, Xcel’s proposed Solar*Connect program has been requested to be changed to Renewable*Connect. This program would allow Xcel to build a solar plant up to 50 MW in size and sell shares of the facility to the public.

The settlement agreement also changed Xcel’s 2017 Renewable Energy Plan, calling for expanding clean energy resources in a “measured and economically reasonable way.” Adding 225 MW of solar capacity to Xcel’s Solar*Rewards program from 2017–2019, the settlement specifies 123 MW should come from small-scale solar projects.

Over the same three-year period, the settlement also requests up to 105 MW of community solar gardens (CSGs) be developed, carving out an additional 12 MW for low-income customers. This adds up to a total of 342 MW of new solar capacity slated for installment in 2017–2019.

Limited numbers of low-income solar program participants will be offered solar rooftops, coupled with the Colorado Energy Office’s weatherization program that leverages DOE funding, and Xcel will also provide a $2/W rebate. With a total of 300 participants, the low-income solar program will be offered to 75 participants in 2017, 100 in 2018, and 125 participants in 2019.

Alice Jackson, Xcel Energy’s regional vice president for rates and regulatory affairs, hailed the recent settlement agreement. “It will allow us to meet our customers’ expectations” she stated, “by giving them more control over their energy choices. It will bring more renewable and carbon-free energy to Colorado through the use of new technologies, and it will provide affordable and reliable energy to further power the state’s economy.”

Likewise encouraged, Rick Gilliam, Vote Solar’s Program Director of DG Regulatory Policy stated, “Colorado is already a leader in many ways when it comes to our nation’s growing solar economy.” He continued, “This settlement means more good news for Colorado. It will ensure that more of the state’s energy consumers will have the opportunity to benefit from the local jobs, energy bill savings, and cleaner air that solar delivers.”

Gilliam continued, “The agreement also recognizes the importance of good regulatory process through a series of subsequent stakeholder workshops in several important technical and policy areas when deciding these critical solar issues. We look forward to participating in those future conversations to help keep Colorado shining.”

The following is an in-depth exploration of the state of solar energy in Colorado. Please feel free to offer further contributions in the comments, below.

Colorado’s Solar Incentives (Super #InsideSolarBaseball)

Federal Incentives

Available within every state of the US, the federal solar investment tax credit (ITC) offers credit from the federal government of up to 30% of a solar installation’s total costs. However, this credit can only be taken full advantage of if you have that much tax liability in the tax year. The current law extends the federal ITC through 2019 and will be phased out after that.

Corporate depreciation incentives are also available for business, as well as a Business Energy Investment Tax Credit (ITC-1603), and a Renewable Energy Production Tax Credit (PTC).

State Incentives

The following is a limited selection of state solar energy incentives listed for Colorado in the DSIRE Incentives Database. The Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE) website is operated by the N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center at N.C. State University and offers up-to-date, comprehensive public information on specific solar energy incentives across the US, including state and federal policies, programs, and incentives.

Colorado’s Net Metering Program Overview — Last updated: 08/27/2015

• Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies: Geothermal Electric, Solar Thermal Electric, Solar Photovoltaics, Wind (All), Biomass, Hydroelectric, Wind (Small), Hydroelectric (Small), Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels
• Applicable Sectors: Commercial, Industrial, Local Government, Nonprofit, Residential, Schools, State Government, Low Income Residential, Institutional
• Applicable Utilities: All utilities (except municipal utilities with less than 5,000 customers)
• System Capacity Limit: IOU customers: 120% of the customer’s average annual consumption.
Municipality and co-op customers: 25 kW for non-residential; 10 kW for residential.
• Aggregate Capacity Limit: No limit specified. Community solar gardens: 6 MW/yr for 2011-2013; set by PUC thereafter
• Net Excess Generation: Credited to customer’s next bill at retail rate. After 12-month cycle, IOU customers may opt to roll over credit indefinitely or to receive payment at IOU’s average hourly incremental cost. Municipality and co-ops provide annual reconciliation at a rate they deem appropriate.
• Ownership of Renewable Energy Credits: Customer owns RECs
• Meter Aggregation: Allowed for IOU customers. Community solar gardens are allowed

Note: Colorado’s Public Utilities Commission opened a proceeding (14M-0235E) in March 2014 for considering changes to net metering and other issues related to retail renewable distributed generation. However, this docket was closed in August 2015 after the Commission voted to keep the current net metering rules.

Eligibility and Availability: Net metering was adopted by the Colorado PUC in December 2005. Utilities must provide net metering service at non-discriminatory rates to customer-generators. Utilities must provide a single bi-directional meter free of charge to customer-generators who do not already own one. A second meter is required for systems over 10 kW to measure output for the counting of renewable energy credits (RECs).

Net Excess Generation: Monthly net excess generation (NEG) is applied on a 1-for-1 basis as a kilowatt-hour (kWh) credit to the customer’s next bill. At the end of the year, or upon termination, the NEG must be reimbursed to the customer by the utility at the most recent year’s average hourly incremental cost.

Net metering customers may choose to have their NEG carried forward from month-to-month indefinitely, but this one-time only option must be done in writing on or before the end of the calendar year. It’s a pretty bad idea, though, because all kWh credits carried forward will be lost upon terminating service with the utility.

Renewable Energy Credits: Customer-generators retain ownership of RECs associated with energy generated by the customer-generator’s system. Utilities may acquire RECs by purchasing them from customer-generators vis a standard offer with a minimum term of 20 years if the system is less than 100 kW.

Meter Aggregation: A customer with more than one meter located on contiguous property can choose to have their generator offset the load measured at more than one meter. Aggregating meters under net metering requires that all affected meters must be on the same rate schedule and needs a 30-day notice to the utility, specifying the order in which kWh credits will be applied to the multiple meters.

Municipal Utilities and Electric Cooperatives: Colorado law enacted in March 2008 (H.B. 1160) requires all electric coops as well as all municipal utilities with over 5,000 customers to offer net metering for residential systems up to 10 kW and commercial and industrial systems up to 25 kW. NEG follows the same rules as above, receiving 1-for-1 credit in following months, and reimbursed at the end of an annual period.

Colorado’s Net Metering Policy for Community Solar Gardens:

Eligibility and Availability: Colorado enacted the Community Solar Gardens (CSGs) Act in 2010, allowing for the creation of CSGs of up to 2 megawatts in an IOU’s service territory (H.B. 1342). H.B. 15-1377 was enacted in 2015, specifying that CSGs can be located in an electric coop’s service territory and used for complying with the retail distributed generation requirements of Colorado’s Renewable Energy Standard.

CSGs may be owned by a nonprofit, for-profit organization, or even the utility itself, but must have at least 10 subscribers, unless the CSG is in the territory of an electric coop and the system size is under 50 kW. Subscribers can purchase up to 40% of the electricity produced by the array, receiving kWh credits on their utility bills relative to the subscription amount. Unless owned by a low-income subscriber, CSG subscriptions must be for at least 1 kW. No more than 120% of the subscriber’s annual energy consumption may be supplied by the CGS. H.B. 15-1284, enacted May 2015, added the note that the CSG subscribers must be “located in the service territory of the same qualifying retail utility and also in the same county as, or a county adjacent to, that of the community solar garden.”

Net Excess Generation: If a CSG subscriber has a NEG in a monthly billing period, the credit will offset future consumption, rolling over from month-to-month indefinitely until the customer terminates service with the IOU, at which time any remaining billing credits expire.

Aggregate Cap: Since 2015, IOUs began acquiring renewable energy from CSGs as part of their renewable portfolio standard compliance plan. Also, a minimum of 5% of an IOU’s purchases from CSGs must be reserved for subscribers in low-income brackets.

Links to Additional Colorado State Solar Incentives:

Renewable Energy Property Tax Assessment Last updated: 10/07/2015

Property Tax Exemption for Residential Renewable Energy Equipment Last updated: 07/23/2015

Local Option — Property Tax Exemption for Renewable Energy Systems Last updated: 10/08/2015

Property Tax Exemption for Community Solar Gardens Last updated: 07/21/2015

Sales and Use Tax Exemption for Renewable Energy Equipment Last updated: 07/21/2015

Local Option — Sales and Use Tax Exemption for Renewable Energy Systems Last updated: 10/08/2015

City of Boulder — Solar Sales and Use Tax Rebate Last updated: 01/25/2016

Efficiency Works — Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program (Offered by 5 Utilities) Last updated: 07/08/2015

Efficiency Works — Business Energy Efficiency Rebate Program (Offered by 5 Utilities) Last updated: 07/06/2015

EZ Investment Tax Credit Refund for Renewable Energy Projects Last updated: 10/30/2015

C-PACE: Colorado Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy Last updated: 06/10/2016

City of Boulder — Solar Grant Program Last updated: 02/12/2016

Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency for Schools Loan Last updated: 07/21/2015

Xcel Energy — Residential Energy Efficiency Financing Last updated: 06/22/2016

Xcel Energy — Commercial Energy Efficiency Financing Last updated: 06/22/2016

Xcel Energy — Solar*Rewards Program Last updated: 06/27/2016

Xcel Energy — Solar*Rewards Community Program Last updated: 03/15/2016

Black Hills Energy — Solar Power Program Last updated: 03/25/2016

Time-of-Use Rates in Colorado

With Xcel’s settlement agreement in August 2016 to withdraw its proposed grid-use fee, the utility stated that, instead, it “will institute time-of-use rates on a trial basis in anticipation of moving to time-of-use rates as the default rate design for residential customers.”

New voluntary programs will be launched by Xcel Energy for up to 20,000 customers in 2017, 34,000 in 2018, and 48,000 in 2019. These programs will be carefully followed and studied for a broader TOU program to be launched in 2020. According to VoteSolar, customers who opt into the test TOU program will have a 2-month window to cancel if they don’t like it.

Lauren Randall, Sunrun’s senior manager of public policy, stated that she sees time-of-use rates as a “beneficial compromise” as opposed to changing net metering rates and adding new fees. Randall said, “We think moving forward this could be a model for utilities and solar companies collaborating on rates that are good for consumers who want more energy choice.” She also noted that TOU rates benefit all ratepayers “by producing energy when the grid needs it.”

More hearings are ongoing, but the Colorado PUC anticipates a final decision on this latest settlement by the end of 2016.

Colorado’s (Promising) Energy Storage Program

The adoption and integration of distributed energy storage are making steady progress in Colorado. A panel discussion in April 2015 held by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) investigated a broad range of energy storage topics. Participants delved into such issues as costs, economics, anticipated growth rate, and regulatory changes relevant to energy storage strategies for residential, commercial, and industrial customers.

Electric Power Research Institute’s (EPRI) Energy Storage Program Senior Project Manager Ben Kaun outlined the beneficial functions offered with energy storage. Kaun emphasized that energy storage functions as a “capacity resource, supporting the grid through flexible ramping, voltage control, and renewable integration, and providing grid reliability and resiliency services.”

SolarCity’s Ryan Hanley outlined the trending decline in battery prices, and increase in customer interest in utilizing storage systems with solar installations. Hanley described SolarCity as “bullish on energy storage,” and reported that the company anticipates all solar PV installations will include a storage component by 2020. Hanley emphasized to the Commission that policies are needed to recognize the full advantage of distributed storage and allow participants to profit from those advantages. He also pointed out the need for a widespread deployment of smart inverters to ensure the fullest range of benefits from distributed energy storage.

Following up on this panel discussion, the CPUC approved Xcel Energy’s request last spring to launch two energy storage demonstration projects. The settlement agreement, signed in March 2016, authorized Xcel to invest $9.1 million for the two projects that will test energy storage applications, one of which will include a microgrid strategy, as well.

Known as the Panasonic Project, the first test will feature a utility-scale solar generation plant with one large battery installed by Xcel near Denver International Airport. The Panasonic Project will be connected to the regional grid but will have the capability to operate as a microgrid, as well.

Known as the Stapleton Project, the second application will feature 6 batteries installed on the customer side of the meter at homes with rooftop solar already present. Xcel will also install another 6 batteries on that area’s feeder line which receives significant electricity flowing from distributed generation. These batteries will be purposely utilized for storing excess energy to be discharged during peak load hours.

All of the resulting information and data from these two projects will be made publicly available. The PUC noted that milestone reports will provide greater public visibility, “ensuring that costs for the projects would be appropriately vetted in a future rate proceeding, and assuring that all resulting data and information that would benefit the public will be made available to the PUC and the public as a whole.”

Xcel Energy stated that it will be “evaluating the capabilities of batteries installed on distribution feeders to regulate voltage, reduce peak demand, and reduce energy costs for the benefit of all the company’s customers.”

Credit: www.oursolarrights.org/state-campaigns/colorado/
Credit: OurSolarRights.org

Notable Solar Installations in Colorado

• Alamosa Solar Generating Projectcompleted in 2012 by developer Cogentrix. This concentrating photovoltaics project has the capacity to generate 30 MW of electricity — enough to power over 5,400 Colorado homes.

• Hooper Solar Project — At 50 MW, Hooper Solar Project is among the larger solar installations in Colorado. Completed in 2016 by SunPower, this PV project produces enough electric capacity to power over 9,500 homes.

• Kohl’s, REI, Safeway, Walmart, and Intel — These are among the larger retailers in Colorado that have gone solar. Intel has installed one of the largest corporate photovoltaic systems in the state with 1,000 kW of solar capacity at their location in Fort Collins.

Intel Offices in Fort Collins Colorado. Credit: Google maps screenshot
Intel Offices in Fort Collins Colorado. Credit: Google maps screenshot

Solar Companies in Colorado

According to SEIA, there are currently over 382 solar companies employed throughout the value chain in Colorado, ranging from solar system manufacturers to system installers. The following is an incomplete listing of solar installers in Colorado, chosen and listed based on high customer reviews and recommendations:

Solar PV System Installers in Colorado:

SolarCity
470 East 76th Avenue, Unit 3A, Denver, CO 80229
15690 Parkerhouse Road, Parker, CO 80134

SunPower by Photon Brothers
3221 W Hampden Ave Sheridan, CO 80110

Namaste Solar
4571 Broadway Street, Boulder, CO 80304

Independent Power Systems
1501 Lee Hill Road, #24, Boulder, CO 80304

Starfire Energy
11533 East Alaska Avenue, Aurora, CO 80012

Bella Energy
500 South Arthur Avenue, Suite 400, Lousiville, CO 80027

ARE Solar
512 Ponderosa Drive, Boulder, CO 80303

Simply Efficient, LLC (Solar & Wind)
7717 West 6th Avenue, Suite F, Lakewood, CO 80214

Southard Solar Energy
625 70th Ave, Unit # 5, Denver, CO 80229

SunTalk Solar
9900 E 51st Avenue, Denver, CO 80238

Stellar Roofing and Solar
4020 Youngfield Street, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033

Adobe Solar
2341 E Arizona Avenue, Denver, CO 80210

Sunlight Solar Energy, Inc. (Colorado Branch)
384 Garden of the Gods Road, #150, Colorado Springs, CO 80907

(Please feel free to add your own recommendations and/or reviews in the comments, below!)

Additional Links for Colorado State Solar Resources

Colorado State Energy Office – Find a wide variety of information on state government energy programs, policy, projects, energy-saving strategies and energy-related statistics

Colorado State Legislature – Track pending legislation affecting solar energy, locate and contact individual legislators, and stay up to date on current legislative issues in Colorado

Colorado Public Utilities Commisssion – Learn about the governing body that regulates the electricity rates and services of California public utilities

DSIRE Incentives Database – Colorado – Search a public clearinghouse for specific solar energy incentives in Colorado and across the United States

U.S. Energy Information Administration – Colorado State Profile – Explore official energy statistics, including data on electricity supply and demand, from the U.S. government

Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association – Nonprofit association leading Colorado’s solar industry.


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Aisha Abdelhamid

is a freelance lifestyle and environmental science writer currently living in Vancouver, BC. Her interests include environmental conservation, climate science, renewable energy, faith-based environmental activism, green building, creative lifestyles, and healthy living.

Aisha Abdelhamid has 59 posts and counting. See all posts by Aisha Abdelhamid