PHOTOS BY BYRON KOMINEK, JACK’S SOLAR GARDEN OWNER[/caption]

The benefits of Community Solar Gardens (CSG) reach far beyond the renewable energy that they produce. Additional benefits include environmental improvement and protection, and community support.

The environmental benefits of CSGs include increasing agricultural resilience such as crop protection from extreme weather events or providing shade for grazing animals such as cows or sheep. Agrivoltaics, the pairing of solar gardens and agriculture, have shown water savings with up to 20% less irrigation needed due to the increased shading from the solar panels and reduced water evaporation.

In addition to the many environmental benefits, CSGs provide an avenue for community resilience and equity within the renewable energy options. Participation is open to anyone with an electricity bill (utility dependent), no matter their income or home ownership status and CSGs enable subscribers to save money while supporting the adoption of more renewable energy on the grid. Other common renewable energy options like rooftop solar are not typically available to renters or residents lacking upfront capital. In addition, renewable energy programs through utility providers such as Windsource are available at a premium cost to fossil fuel sourced options.

The Town of Nederland is collaborating with US Solar, a CSG developer, on 500 residential CSG subscriptions that provide financial savings for subscribers, but also support Nederland in reaching its renewable energy goal for its electric grid. Subscribers are guaranteed financial savings (up to $1000 over the 20 year contract for the average energy user) but also include a $100 e-gift card, $50 donation on the subscribers’ behalf to either the Nederland Food Pantry or Wild Bear Nature Center. The program also supports adding more renewable energy to the grid.

Additional benefits beyond renewable energy that are specific to US Solar’s CSG developments include a commitment to planting native habitat at their CSG locations. Thoughtful vegetation at CSG sites decreases stormwater runoff, enhances soil regeneration and increases air quality in the surrounding community. Each year, the energy generated by the average Community Solar Garden helps local communities avoid over 3,700 metric tons of carbon emissions. That is equivalent to avoiding over 4 million pounds of coal burned, or 5.6 million miles driven by a passenger vehicle (EPA GHG Calculator).

Xcel Energy and other utility providers are increasing their renewable energy portfolio every year but despite improvements, the average residential energy bill still contributes to the import and burning of fossil fuels. With a Community Solar Garden Sunscription, you are reducing your utility’s carbon footprint and adding clean energy to the Colorado grid.

For more information, check out https://townofnederland.colorado. gov/Community-Solar-Garden. If you have any questions, email SAB@nederlandco.org.