Solar energy and renewables in general are a key solution to weaning our society from climate disrupting fossil fuels. Large scale wind farms, rooftop solar and budding new technologies like hydrogen fuels are essential to a speedy transition to clean energy. With limited options through most utility companies, one challenge for the environmentally-minded individual is how can they support the renewable energy transition today?

What is a community solar garden?

A community solar garden (CSG) is a large solar array that is currently regulated in size from 10 kilowatts to 5 megawatts. The garden can be located on the ground or on someone’s roof. When you subscribe to a CSG you are subscribing to a percentage of the garden’s energy production based on your home or location’s average energy use. The CSG is approved by the subscriber’s utility and therefore this energy exchange (the CSG and the energy you consume at home) is calculated between the CSG developer and your utility.

Colorado community solar garden legislation

In 2010 Colorado was one of the first states to pioneer CSG with the Community Solar Gardens Act (HB-1342). This bill allowed Investor Owned Utilities (IOUs) to develop community solar garden arrays, increasing community access to renewable energy. The rules regarding these solar gardens have changed over the last 12 years with a revamp of legislation in 2016 and again in 2020. For example, these gardens were initially limited in size to 2 megawatt capacity, but are now up to 5 megawatt and will increase up to 10 megawatts in July of 2023. Additionally, CSGs were initially limited in location to the subscriber’s county or adjacent county. Removing that limitation has now increased to installation anywhere in the utilities coverage area in the state. Other requirements have remained, such as a minimum of 10 subscribers, along with a limitation that no single entity can subscribe for more than 40% of the garden’s total energy.

Community solar gardens and Nederland

Nederland launched a CSG campaign in partnership with Minnesota-based US Solar on September 9. US Solar has reserved 500 CSG subscriptions for Nederland residents and guarantees a financial savings rate of 5% off Xcel’s bill credit rate for the 20-year life of the subscription, amounting to an $800 - $1000 average savings over the life of the contract. With no cancellation fee - and no rooftop panels, this is ideal for both homeowners and renters with an Xcel electric utility bill. This CSG subscription also comes with a $100 e-gift card and US Solar is sending a $50 donation on the behalf of each subscriber to your choice of one of two local non-profits; Wild Bear Nature Center or the Nederland Food Pantry. While this program seems too good to be true, Colorado legislation enables both the availability and the discount from current Xcel prices. To learn more about this CSG opportunity and sign up, visit https://www.us-solar.com/partner/nederland.

Another important CSG option to mention is income qualified subscriptions that are available to residents in Xcel territory. To qualify for these subscriptions you must make less than 80% of Average Median Income (AMI) in Boulder County and have a utility bill. In Boulder County a household of four would need to make less than $100,000 annually or a single person household, less than $63,000. This program is a huge financial savings, with the average Colorado home seeing an average of $50 savings on their monthly energy bill for 20 years. To learn more about this opportunity and sign up, visit Energy Outreach Colorado at https:// www.energyoutreach.org/community- solar/.

In addition to saving money and supporting more clean renewable energy on the grid, each individual subscriber helps Nederland reach its renewable energy goal of 100% renewable energy for its electric grid by 2025. In fact, if just over 300 people in the Town of Nederland sign up for this program, this lofty and expedited goal can be triumphantly achieved by 2025 underscoring Nederland’s robust commitment to the environment.

US Solar is looking for more mountain communities to partner with. If your community is ready for a similar CSG program, reach out to Tim Hilgert at tim.hilgert@us-solar.com.

If you have questions about Nederland’s campaign, reach out to Nederland’s Sustainability Advisory Board at SAB@nederlandco.org.