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Press Release: Two Community-Owned Solar Facilities to Serve Jefferson County
Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Jefferson County Getting More Access to Renewable Energy

Construction underway on two new Clean Energy Collective community solar facilities in Golden, Colo., open to all Xcel Energy customers within Jefferson County

 
 
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 28, 2014

Media Contact 
Tim Braun, b2,inc.
(970) 618-0080
tbraun@b2inc.net

 

 

BOULDER, COLO. – (May 28, 2014) Nation-leading community solar developer Clean Energy Collective (CEC) recently began construction on two new community-owned solar facilities in Golden, Colo., making available 684 kW of locally-made clean energy production to Xcel Energy customers residing in Jefferson County. Once the facilities are complete, Xcel Energy will provide more community solar capacity than any utility in the country.

Part of Xcel Energy’s Solar*Rewards Communities program, the 569 kW and 115 kW solar PV systems are being developed on a 4-acre site west on 56th Avenue in Golden. These mark the third and fourth community solar facilities CEC has started construction on this month, including two sites in progress in Denver County, and brings to seven the number of CEC community solar facilities serving Xcel Energy customers on the Front Range, including active solar facilities in Denver, Aurora and Boulder.

“We are so pleased to offer Denver more opportunities for solar ownership,” said Paul Spencer, founder and CEO of Clean Energy Collective. “Affordable and accessible renewable energy is vital to our energy future, and we’re proud that Colorado is leading the nation in community-based renewable energy solutions.”

Through CEC’s community-owned solar model, any Xcel Energy ratepayer in Jefferson County will be able to purchase individual panels in the shared arrays, from one kilowatt up to enough panels to off-set 120% of their electric usage. Community solar customers receive rebates and incentives just like home-sited systems, and receive credit for the energy produced directly on their monthly utility bills, as if the PV system were located on a home or business.

The solution is especially attractive for electricity customers where solar ownership is not an option, including many businesses, renters, those with shaded properties, and people with modest incomes. The arrays are sited and maintained to operate at peak efficiency, delivering clean, dependable power for decades.

The combined facilities are expected to produce approximately 1,160,000 kilowatt-hours of clean energy in the first year alone, enough to power 100 homes annually.  Over the 20 year Xcel Energy agreement, CO2 omissions will be reduced by over 38 million pounds.

“Solar*Rewards Community and Clean Energy Collective projects such as the one we celebrate today offer Xcel Energy customers a choice in solar products that will help them reduce their impact on the environment,” said David Eves, president and CEO of Public Service Co. of Colorado, an Xcel Energy company. “Today in Colorado, more than 20 percent of our energy mix comes from renewable sources. Collaborative community solutions like this one in Jefferson County are one of the keys to our shared success in this area, helping to place Xcel Energy among the nation’s leaders in delivering safe, clean energy from renewable sources.”

Construction is due to be complete this summer, and panel owners will see a power credit on their utility bill as soon as the array goes online. After available rebates and tax incentives, the price per watt will be $3.70.  Space reservations are now being taken; for more information visit www.coloradcommunitysolar.com, or to make a refundable panel reservation contact CEC at info@coloradocommunitysolar.com or (800) 646-0323.

About Clean Energy Collective

Clean Energy Collective (CEC) is the nation’s leading developer of community solar solutions. CEC pioneered the model of delivering clean power-generation through large-scale facilities that are collectively owned by participating utility customers.  Since establishing the first community-owned solar garden in the country in 2010 near El Jebel, Colorado, CEC has built or has under development more than 40 community solar projects with 18 utility partners across 8 states, representing 26 MW of community solar capacity. www.easycleanenergy.com

 

 

Clean Energy Collective
Phone: 1-800-646-0323
Web: www.EasyCleanEnergy.com

 

 

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Press Release: Jefferson County Gets More Access to Renewable Energy