Learn More About Solar Power
Benefits
- Reduce utility bills
- Clean
- Quiet
- Low maintenance
- Produce your own power
- Increase property value
- Reduce pollution and CO2 emissions
- Stabilize electrical infrastructure
- Strengthen national energy security
- Protection against future rate hikes
What are the steps involved in a PV installation?
You can get started by researching solar installers. Look in the yellow pages or you can choose from the directory at either COSEIA or Find Solar. You should get at least three bids for your system and they should all be free of charge.
We certainly think Golden Solar should be one of the firms you contact: see why!
Once you pick a firm and sign a contract they can start the rebate process and get confirmation from the utility. It takes about 21 days for approval. The contractor can then order materials and set up a date for installation. Once the panels arrive the work can be completed within a week for a medium size system. Then, after submitting the final paperwork, Xcel reviews the system and verifies the permits and panel serial numbers; this takes another three weeks. From there Xcel arranges for a net meter to be installed. And then after that you are generating electricity from the sun!
For additional information, see Xcel’s web page.
Solar Incentives in Colorado
12/12/06 News Item: Key Tax Bill for Renewables Passed by Congress
Amendment 37
Passed by Colorado voters in 2004 the amendment mandates that utilities with over 40,000 customers generate 10% of their electricity from renewables by the year 2015. It requires that 4% come from solar electric generation. It is the first voter initiated renewable energy legislation in the U.S.
Utility Rebates
To fulfill the requirements of Amendment 37 Xcel offers an incentive of $4.50 per watt. This covers over half the cost of a photovoltaic installation.
Tax Credit
As part of the 2005 Energy Bill, the federal tax credit covers 30% of a solar energy installation costs. The credit is capped at $2,000 dollars for residential systems but it is unlimited for commercial installations. Additionally, businesses can depreciate the full cost of the system over five years. Unfortunately, non-profits and municipalities cannot take the credit.
- Tax Form 5695 "Residential Energy Credits"
- Solar Energy Industries Association - Guide to Federal Tax Incentives
Net Metering
Net metering is a program that utilities offer to their customers who generate electricity. For residential solar systems, a special meter is installed to run forward as power is used in the home, and run backward as surplus power is supplied to the grid. At the end of the year, if the system generated more power than what was used in the home, the utility will send a check for the excess.