The Colorado Solar Energy voter initiative, Amendment 37, passed by a large margin (54%-46%) in 2004.

This involves a voluntary rate increase to subsidize solar electrical generation at the home or business with Solar Energy grid-tied systems. These subsidies give you a savings of 50-75% on your Solar Energy System.

Participating Utilities:

(If your utility is not listed above, please contact us for more information on the utility rebates in your area)

Key Points of Colorado Amendment 37 Initiative:

• A Statewide Renewable Portfolio Standard of 10% by 2020 (Later increased by Gov. Ritter to 20%)
• Utility rebate: Up to a total of $4.50 per watt (~50-70% of total)
• Net metering
• Solar Access Laws

Xcel Solar*Rewards Program

Xcel Energy’s Solar Rebate Program provides up to a $3.50-per-DC watt incentive for Xcel Energy customers who install grid-connected solar systems at least 0.5 kW in capacity, up to a maximum of 10 kW. The incentive is structured as a $2.00-per-watt rebate and $1.50-per-watt Renewable Energy Credit (REC) payment.

The Renewable Energy Credit (REC) payment may be adjusted, either up or down, based on the calculation of expected kWh of electric output as compared with an optimally oriented, fixed (i.e., non-tracking) system at the customer’s location, but only if the calculated system output differs from the optimally oriented system output by more than 10 percent. Battery backup is not covered under the rebate.

What this basically does is make sure your system is functional and efficient, and Astralux systems are built and designed with optimal efficiency in mind.

Also Xcel must provide net metering to any solar customer, described below, which allows the household to create excess energy and sell it back to Xcel and receive credit on their electricity bill (at wholesale rates).

Black Hills Energy (Aquila) Solar Rebate Program

Black Hills Energy Solar Rebate Program provides up to a $4.50-per-DC watt incentive for Black Hills Energy customers who install grid-connected solar systems at least 0.5 kW in capacity, up to a maximum of 10 kW. The incentive is structured as a $2.00-per-watt rebate and $2.50-per-watt Renewable Energy Credit (REC) payment.

The REC Payment is structured the same as the Xcel Solar Rewards Program.

Also Black Hills must provide net metering to any solar customer, described below, which allows the household to create excess energy and sell it back to Black Hills and receive credit on their electricity bill (at wholesale rates).

Colorado Springs Utilities Solar Rebate Program

Black Hills Energy Solar Rebate Program provides up to a $3.75-per-AC watt incentive (which is different than the DC watt calculation by Xcel and Black Hills) for Colorado Springs Utilities customers who install grid-connected solar systems at least 0.5 kW in capacity, up to a maximum of 25 kW (AC).

When compared to the Xcel and Black Hills rebates, you can figure about $3.16-per-DC watt for the rebate. The amount of the rebate may be reduced for non-optimal tilt, orientation, shading, and other factors.

Federal Tax Incentives

The tax credits are for 30% of the cost of the total system. For residential systems, the will be NO cap on the amount of credits you can claim starting in 2009, and Commercial Systems have NO cap.

Commercial federal tax benefits are even better, click here for more information.

Colorado Solar Policies

Colorado Net Metering Policy

Solar systems that generate electricity using qualifying renewable-energy resources are eligible to net meter.

Net excess generation (NEG) in a given month will be applied as a credit to the following month. If in a calendar year a customer's generation exceeds consumption, the utility must reimburse the customer for the excess electricity generation at the utility’s average hourly incremental cost for the prior 12-month period.

If a customer-generator does not own a single bi-directional meter, then the utility must provide one free of charge. Systems over 10 kilowatts (kW) in capacity require a second meter.

This policy has no expiration date, so our customers can be assured of net metering and NEG from bigger systems.

Boulder Solar Access Ordinance

The City of Boulder’s solar access ordinance guarantees access to sunlight for homeowners and renters in the city. This is done by setting limits on the amount of permitted shading by new construction. A solar access permit is available to those who have installed or who plan to install a Solar Energy system and need more protection than is provided by the ordinance.

For new developments, all units which are not planned to incorporate solar features must be sited to provide good solar access. They must also have roofs capable of supporting at least 75 square feet of solar collectors per dwelling unit.

For our customers in the Boulder area, this is another assurance that their solar system will accommodated in their neighborhood and city. Plus, with new households required to support large solar systems – incorporating our systems with new residential construction will be easier and more available.

Other Local Initiatives / Programs:

Aspen Solar Pioneer Program – Zero-Interest Loan

• 0% interest – 5 years

Aspen Solar Pioneer Rebate Program

• Solar thermal: $1,000 - $2,000
• Solar electric: $2/W – limit $6,000

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