Originally published on Green Building Elements. Homes designed with renewable energy options continue to become more common. This press release from KB Homes is great news. New homes are a logical place to feature solar power options where the challenge of financing the cost of renewables can be included in the original … [continued]
Coloradans support rooftop solar. They have made that abundantly clear time and time again. A recent poll demonstrated that 70% of Coloradans support net metering, a critical solar policy. In December, hundreds of residents descended on Xcel headquarters to oppose the utility’s attacks on rooftop solar. And at the beginning … [continued]
Last week, hundreds of Coloradans gathered at the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to express their support for rooftop solar and net metering (and their opposition to Xcel’s proposals to undermine it). Solar proponents out-numbered supporters of Xcel by a ratio of 16 to one. Net metering is a policy that … [continued]
In December, Xcel Energy’s Frank Prager appeared on CPR’s Colorado Matters and spread blatant untruths about rooftop solar in Colorado. While Prager’s comments are a stark contrast to Xcel’s own carefully-cultivated brand image—after all, Xcel’s slogan is ‘responsible by nature’ – they align perfectly with utilities’ coordinated attacks on rooftop … [continued]
Originally published on Reviving Gaia by Roy L. Hales The relationship between Colorado’s rooftop solar industry and the state’s principal investor owned utility, Xcel, seemed good in 2012. Xcel had reason to be proud of the solar topped schools, homes and libraries that it had partnered with local installers on … [continued]
Originally published on SolarWakeup by Yann Brandt Governor Hickenlooper (D-CO) nominated former Colorado State Representative Glenn Vaad to the Colorado Public Utilities Commission. Mr. Vaad began his 4 year term on January 7th while waiting for his confirmation by the Colorado State Senate. The interesting point about Mr. Vaad’s nomination is … [continued]
About 22 solar gardens are being built in Colorado, and more will probably be added. The city of Breckenridge is buying 40% of two of them for one simple reason — because it makes economic sense. If they generate a portion of their own power, over the long-term they can … [continued]
Fitch Ratings reports net metering has grown at a 46.7% annual rate across America, boosting residential solar systems but threatening to “destabilize” the US power utility industry.
Originally published on EV Obsession. We’ve written about it many times: electric cars are much, much cheaper to run. Based on the average price of electricity in the US, gas at $3.50/gallon, and the average miles driven per year, the Nissan Leaf costs $473.98/year to fuel while the Nissan Rogue … [continued]
Originally published on Cost of Solar. A couple weeks ago, I wrote about a strong push from Colorado residents, businesses, and organizations to get 3,000 megawatts (MW) of solar on one million rooftops by 2030. Despite this, Colorado utility Xcel Energy is pushing to roll back policies that support the … [continued]
