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BOULDER, COLO. – (May 29, 2014) Community solar developer Clean Energy Collective (CEC) has broken ground on two new community-owned solar facilities in Denver, soon to add an additional megawatt (1 MW) of local clean energy available to Xcel Energy’s Denver County customers.
Part of Xcel Energy’s Solar*Rewards Communities program, the two 500 kW community-shared solar PV systems are being developed on a shared 5-acre site at the Evie Garrett Dennis School campus in the rapidly growing Green Valley Ranch area of northeast Denver. Any Xcel Energy ratepayer in Denver 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. Customers will then receive credit for the energy produced directly on their monthly Xcel Energy bill, as if the PV system were located on their home or business.
“We’re really excited to bring these two new facilities to Denver. Never before has the opportunity to use local clean energy been available to so many people so easily,” said Paul Spencer, founder and CEO of Clean Energy Collective. “Affordable and accessible solar is an important part of our energy future, and it’s exciting to see Colorado leading the nation in community-based renewable energy solutions.”
CEC’s community-owned solar model allows 100% of a utility’s ratepayers—including businesses, renters, those with shaded properties, and people of all income levels—the opportunity to own clean, locally-produced energy. Members receive rebates and incentives just like home-sited systems, and 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 1,668,000 kilowatt-hours of clean energy in the first year alone, enough to power 150 homes annually. Over the 20-year Xcel Energy agreement, CO2 omissions will be reduced by over 54 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 Denver 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. Refundable panel reservations are being taken now. More information is available online at www.coloradocommunitysolar.com or by contacting 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
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