Advocacy

Solar Opportunities — Colorado

Solar Offerings and Incentives

There are many opportunities  in Colorado to purchase solar power without actually installing the equipment on your property as Colorado was one of the first states to offer community solar to its residents.  These community or shared solar opportunities are listed below.  Of course, you can always install solar on your home by hiring a qualified solar installer, even if you don’t live in one of these program areas.  If so, don’t forget to claim the state and federal tax incentives. 

State and Local Incentives

Property Tax Exemption for Residential Renewable Energy Equipment   

In Colorado, renewable energy personal property that is located on a residential classified property, owned by the residential property owner, and produces energy that is used by the residential property is exempt from Colorado property taxation. Find out more about eligibility requirements and how to claim this tax exemption.  

Local Property Tax Exemption for Renewable Energy Systems

Colorado now allows counties and cities to offer rebates or credits on property or sales tax to residential and commercial property owners who install renewable energy systems on their properties. This includes solar water heat, solar thermal electric, and photovoltaic systems among other renewables. More information on eligibility requirements and to see if your city or county offers these rebates.

Sales and Use Tax Exemption for Renewable Energy Equipment

Colorado exempts all sales, storage, and use of equipment used to produce electricity from a renewable energy source. These include solar thermal, solar water heat, solar space heat, solar thermal electric, solar thermal process heat, and solar photovoltaic systems among other renewables. Learn more about eligibility requirements and find information on how to claim the exemption. 

Property-Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Financing

PACE Financing allows homeowners to borrow money to make energy improvements to their home. Improvements eligible for this type of financing are determined by local governments. More information or find out if your town has this program.

City of Boulder - Solar Sales and Use Tax Rebate

The city of Boulder offers a 15% rebate on solar sales and use taxes for photovoltaic and solar water heating systems. The average rebate is equal to about $140 for a 4.5 kilowatt system. More information.

Sales and Use Tax Exemption for Renewable Energy Systems

Colorado allows counties and cities to offer rebates or credits on local sales and use tax to residential and commercial property owners who install renewable energy systems on their properties. This includes solar water heat, solar thermal electric and photovoltaic systems among other renewables. More information on eligibility requirements and see if your city or county offers these rebates. 

Roaring Fork Valley - Renewable Energy Rebate Program  

The community office of resource efficiency  in western Colorado offers rebates within the Roaring Fork Valley for the installation of solar hot water and photovoltaic systems. The systems have to be installed or signed off by a COSEIA or NABCEP certified contractor. More information.  

Federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit

A federal-level investment tax credit (ITC) is now available to consumers wanting to purchase small wind turbines, solar panels, or geothermal heat pumps.  The ITC, written into law through the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, is available for equipment installed from Oct. 3, 2008 through Dec. 31, 2016. The credit covers 30% of the equipment cost, though some technologies have a credit cap of $2000. More details and a complete list of eligible technologies. 

Local projects

Sol Partners Cooperative Solar Farm

This program allows households to purchase a share in an existing solar facility

Eligibility: Customers  of United Power 

More information. 

Solar Gardens Community Power

This program provides support to communities that would like to start a solar garden in their community, and provides a platform for people to find solar opportunities within their counties to which they can subscribe. Each subscriber owns part of the solar garden, the size varies compared to your needs, and receives the benefits related to that subscription.. 

Eligibility: There are a number of solar gardens in Colorado already (list below).

More information.  

SunShare Community Solar

SunShare is community solar program that creates community solar gardens from which customers may purchase the electricity produced by a minimum of 2-5 solar panels. Each subscription lasts 20 years and can reduce or the monthly electric bill.         

Eligibility: All electric users from Adams, Arapahoe, Denver, El Paso and Jefferson Counties

For more information. 

Green Power Partners

United Power offers its customers  blocks of solar power. 100% of the money put into the program is reinvested in renewable energy electric power production.

Eligibility: Customers of United Power

For more information. 

Delta Montrose Electric Association Community Solar Array

This program allows households to lease solar part of a  solar array starting at just $10. The program may be sold out, so check on availability.

Eligibility: Members of Delta Montrose  Electric Association

For more information.

Grand Valley Power Solar Farm

This program offers solar power from any number of panels. Each panel requires 5 years of $15 installments that provide the customer benefits and bill credits in the 18 years. This is a great program for those who want to go solar, but do not want to or cannot put solar panels on their property.

Eligibility: Members pf Grand Valley Rural Electric Cooperative

More information.