Adobe Solar Blog

Adobe Solar Blog

The Colorado Governor’s Energy Office (GEO) has recently begun to outline its statewide solar rebate program for Colorado.  There are still many details that need to be finalized by the GEO, but currently this new rebate program is expected to begin accepting solar applications in the first quarter of 2010.  The GEO solar rebate will enable Colorado’s electric customer the ability to receive a rebate of up to $3/watt for up to a 3,000W (DC) solar electric system.  This rebate will be administered directly through the Colorado GEO, and is a long awaited moment for the state’s solar energy industry.  Currently, this program will not be open to Xcel Energy solar PV customers, because the Xcel’s Solar Rewards rebate exceeded the $3/watt GEO rebate in September when the GEO was setting up this program.

For more information on this and other programs, please contract an Adobe Solar representative by calling 303-339-0308 or submitting our online quote request HERE

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In late October, the Solar Rewards Program at Xcel Energy unveiled their plan to quickly reduce solar rebates monies avalible their Colorado electric customers.  Xcel explained that they are not collecting sufficient monies from their customer base to continue funding the rebate program at current levels.  Thus, Xcel was forced to quickly reduce the payment of solar energy system rebates to its customers. To accomplish this task, Xcel’s Solar Rewards Program has implemented a 12-step tiered rebate reduction. This tiered rebate reduction is front end loaded, with high rebate payment reductions and few available rebates in the begging steps, and much lower rebate payments and many more available rebates in latter tiers. In past weeks this reduction has been a success for Xcel and has lead to a REC payment reduction of over 50% since its implemented in late October, 2009. Xcel’s REC payment for small customer owned PV systems has now fallen from to step #1 of $1.50/watt DC, to step #3 of $.85/ watt, and if these rebates continue falling at current rates, we estimate that the rebate will drop to step #5 of $.55/watt DC by February 2010. What does this all mean? If you are thinking about solar, you may want to apply for your rebate ASAP, before the rebates go down further.

It may also be woth noting that Xcel no longer determines rebate levels based upon time/date of application, but in Step 1 of the rebate process as shown on their website.  In addition, in recent months Xcel has begun to require application, $250.00 deposit, and signed rebate letter before you will be guarenteed to rebate level. This means that although you may sumbit application today when the solar rewards REC  payment is in step #3, it is possible that step #3 has already been exausted by other rebates that are already waiting in the cue, and by the time your rebate has been approved your applicaiton may be accepted but at a lower rate.

For more info on the latest information about Xcel Enegy’s Solar Rewards Rebate: CLICK HERE

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The following charts reflect the tiered pricing for the Solar*Rewards program.

Click Here for an updated chart.

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Adobe Solar has recently donated a 2kW solar electric PV system which will be auctioned off at the 2nd annual Green Harvest Silent Auction to be held November 12, 2009. This donation will help to raise money to support Ellis Elementary School and FrontRange Earth Force.  These groups will use this money in the coming year to continue the amazing green improvements they are making to our local Denver communities and schools.

Adobe Solar is excited about this opportunity to give back one of Denver Public School’s leading green schools, and hopes to continue to support local schools and nonprofits to promote a sustainable community in the years ahead.  For more information or about the silent aution we encourage you to

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Adobe Solar just returned from the Solar Power 2009 conference in Anaheim CA. This year’s conference once again broke all attendance records for the conference with more than 23,000 people in attendance.

There are many reasons for the solar industry to be excited. Solar module prices have fallen by as much as 50% in the last 12 months, making solar more affordable to all. In addition to this local and state governments around the United States continue to push green energy by reducing solar barriers and offering a wide variety of solar incentives. Finally, many new products were released at the conference which will provide more solar solutions to more people around the country and also help to lower installed system costs.

Adobe Solar is excited to begin implementing some of the new technologies we have found and continue to offer reliable and cost effective solutions for our customers throughout Colorado and the Denver metro area.

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The Denver business community got some exciting news this week with the announcement that SMA will be opening a facility in the Stapleton neighborhood.  SMA is a leader in solar inverter manufacturing.  Their commitment to the Denver area is yet another example of the booming solar industry in Colorado.  As Governor Bill Ritter stated earlier this week, “The company’s decision to locate in Colorado emphasizes our growing clean-energy industry, the growing market for photovoltaics, and Colorado’s success at transforming our energy future.“

Denver was selected over multiple candidates in the U.S. for it’s proximity to DIA and I-70 as well as the highly educated work force and Colorado’s reputation for solar pv research at places like NREL.  The commitment made by Mayor Hickenlooper and Governor Bill Ritter to transform Colorado into the epicenter of the new energy economy played a huge role in this decision as well.  

The local manufacture of solar inverters will have profound effects on the solar industry.  Solar installations will require less transportation fuel,  the Denver solar installation companies like Adobe Solar will be able to collaborate with the SMA product development teams, and the price of solar inverters will likely decrease.  However, the most significant effect of this new plant will be seen in job growth.  SMA will hire approximately 500 employees for this new facility.     

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Adobe Solar and advocates of solar electric solutions were thrilled to learn that Xcel has cancelled its’ plan to charge homes with solar power an additional fee.

The defeated plan would have effectively charged people with solar electric systems a fee for the “luxury” of having a grid-tied system.  Aside from the substantial environmental benefits, solar energy is an amazing financial tool that provides tens of thousands of dollars in free electricity.  The proposed fee would have diluted the savings and dealt a major blow to a burgeoning industry.

We are proud to be a part of a community that stands behind renewable sources of energy.  Without the efforts of Colorado citizens, Bill Ritter, Andrew Kerr, the Colorado Solar Energy Industry Association, and many others, this plan may have passed.

There are some lessons to be learned from this potential set back.

First, we all need to recognize that we have to stay focused and keep the pressure on the powers that be when it comes to the future of solar energy. Without our voices, this amazing solution could lose momentum and be slowly eliminated.  We have come to far to allow that to happen.  Stay involved and let your representatives know how you feel.  

Second, we all need to remember how lucky we are in the State of Colorado to have such an amazing rebate structure.  However,  we must also remember that all financial incentives are finite.  We need to take advantage of them while we can because they might not be here tomorrow.

Thanks again to all of you that got involved and helped to defeat this plan.

see the Denver Post article: http://www.denverpost.com/greenbusiness/ci_12990171

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Xcel Energy is proposing another rate increase in residential rates this year, and on top of that targeting residential solar customers in particular.

Under Xcel Energy’s proposal:

• Every residence with a solar system will be charged a ratcheted MINIMUM MONTHLY CHARGE-regardless of how much electricity is generated by the solar system in that month. If a solar household purchases electricity from Xcel Energy in ANY twelve-month period, Xcel will charge the customer for that same amount of electricity as A MINIMUM CHARGE EVERY SINGLE MONTH FOR THE NEXT TWELVE MONTHS-even in months when you are producing all of your own electricity!
•  If you purchase electricity from Xcel Energy in more than one month, the new minimum monthly charge will be pegged to the month in which you purchase the GREATEST number of kilowatt hours!
•  These charges are IN ADDITION to the current monthly minimum of $7.50 already paid by solar customers!

THIS PROPOSAL WILL PENALIZE COLORADO RESIDENTS FOR INSTALLING SOLAR SYSTEMS AND REDUCE SOLAR SYSTEM “PAYBACK” DRAMATICALLY. IT IS A NEGATIVE NATIONAL PRECEDENT THAT REJECTS THE SPIRIT OF AMENDMENT 37 AND STALLS THE CREATION OF THE NEW ENERGY ECONOMY!

PUC’s public comment hearing:

 Wednesday, August 5th

4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

1560 Broadway, Suite 1550

Denver, CO 80202

WRITE THE PUC!

While it is best to show up in person, you can register your comments and concerns or email the PUC. Be sure to reference Docket #09AL-299E

Adobe Solar encourages anyone who supports clean renewable energy in Colorado to attend the PUC meeting this Wednesday and let your support me shown.  For more information contact CoSEIA.

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Many are expecting Xcel Energy to reduce solar rebates soon! As cash runs low and 2009 on-site solar installations for Xcel customer’s reach 8MW, many in Colorado’s solar industry expect that the solar rebate for Xcel Energy customers will be lowered in the coming months.

Just to give a little history, the first time Xcel Energy lowered their solar rebate  was last October. On Oct. 23, 2009 Xcel filed a notice with the Colorado PUC that it was cutting its payments for Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) associated with small solar power systems that generate up to 10 kilowatts of power. This letter said that as of 11:50 p.m. on Oct. 24 (roughly 30 hours after the filing) the new payment would be $1.50 per watt instead of $2.50. This change set off a mad rush from Colorado’s solar installation companies, which filed about 1,300 applications for the program in the day before the deadline.

Basically the upfront cash solar ebate for an average system size of 4 Kilowatt’s was dropped from $18,000.00 to $14,000.00. Xcel later explained that their first solar rebate reduction was needed due to the Oct. 3, $700 federal billion bailout package which lifted the $2,000.00 residential cap on the 30% Federal Tax Credit available for solar powered systems.

If you are interested in going solar the time may be now. Solar panel prices have fallen 30% in recent months, lowering costs to customers and increasing the ROI (Return on Investment) for solar electric systems. Currently, Xcel’s solar rebate and REC payment total $3.50 (DC watt) and combined with the 30% federal tax credit being offered, customers 70%-80% of the installed cost of a solar powered system.  Rebates to go solar in Colorado may never be better!

At this time, Xcel is still accepting solar rebate applications. If you are considering installing a solar powered system we suggest applying for your Xcel solar rebate as soon as possible, your free rebate application will lock in your solar system at the current level and provide you with up to a year to install your solar system.   If you are interested in understanding more about solar, or if your home or business is a good fit, Adobe Solar performs free site evaluation for your home or commercial property. Using the information gathered the solar site evaluation an Adobe associate will be able to design a system to meet your specific needs and submit your application to lock in your Xcel solar rewards rebate.

Request a FREE SOLAR SITE EVALUTION from Adobe Solar : CLICK HERE

For more information on Xcel Energy’s Solar Rewards Rebate Program: CLICK HERE

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On June 20, 2009 Colorado was selected as one of only 7 states to receive more than $162 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to support energy efficiency and renewable energy projects including solar. Colorado was awarded $19,688,800 in Recovery Act SEP funds which will be used for several projects around the state designed to boost renewable energy and energy efficiency measures. These projects include a suite of products aimed at removing financial barriers to rapid deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency initiatives, including offering access to short-term and intermediate low-cost capital to projects in the commercial, residential and industrial sectors.
The recently awarded Recovery Act funds, will enable Colorado to substantially expand its Renewable Energy Rebates and Grants Program across the residential, commercial and industrial/utility sectors. Additionally, the office will promote greater energy efficiency in new and existing homes with programs such as a “whole house tune-up” that bundles efficiency incentives for homes.
Upon demonstrating the successful implementation of its plan, Colorado will be eligible to receive an additional $24 million in additional funding, for a total of more than $49 million.

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