Adobe Solar Blog

Adobe Solar Blog

Highlands Ranch HOA’s are now required to accept solar electric system installations.  A law preventing HOA’s from blocking the installation of solar panels has been in place for quite a while but some of these organizations still made it difficult for solar energy companies like Adobe Solar to attain permits.  However,  the law was recently expanded to make it much more difficult for this type of interference.  

We are excited about this development and believe it is yet another example of how society is embracing renewable energy.

Adobe is currently installing a large amount of solar electric systems in Highlands Ranch.  Please let us know if you would like to know more about these new developments.

http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_12615625

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Adobe Solar now offers 0% financing, and NO payments for 6 months!  This program is meant to cut your energy costs and carbon footprint, while keeping money in your pocket during these difficult economic times!

0% Solar Financing Basics:

• No application fee
• No closing costs
• No prepayment penalties
• No payments and no interest for 6 months on approved credit
• 100% unsecured up to $45,000 on approved credit
• A fast credit decision in about 10 minutes
• No paperwork

For more information or to enroll in Adobe’s 0% financing program contact:
Bjorn Thorsland

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Last week the US House Energy and Commerce Committee voted out the long awaited climate change bill (HR 2454,)  also known as the "Waxman-Markey" bill. Views on this outing have mixed views.
Many environmentalist say that this legislation barley scratch the surface of the real issues the bill was supposed to face.  It’s widely believed that GHG emissions must be reduced by 25-40% of 1990 levels by the year 2020, but the bill was only aiming for ‘17% of 2005 levels.  Realistically this means a reduction of only 4% of 1990 levels.  Although the general thinking of the bill is good, much more needs to be done if we are serious about solving our issues.
In Colorado the only a few of the electrical providers must adhere to portfolio standard of 20% renewable energy production by the year 2020.  If a bill like the one just ousted were to have passed, we would probably see many more utility companies around the state offering rebates and incentive to customers hoping to go solar, but this would be unlikely to motivate companies like Xcel Energy to increase their solar rebate programs.

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Google has released software that will allow consumers to gain detailed information on how much electricity they’re using, which could help households reduce consumption by as much as 15 percent.
Google’s new software, PowerMeter, integrates into the iGoogle platform, where users can use a customized page with easy to use Web-based applications. The PowerMeter is designed to show a real-time view of electricity the properties energy consuming devices.
Google’s PowerMeter takes data from “smart meters,“ and other electricity management devices. U.S. President Barack Obama’s economy stimulus plan includes smart meters for up to 40 million U.S. homes.

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Xcel Energy Inc’s request for a $112.2 million increase in electric rates was recently approved by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission and will be effective July 1.  The rate increase passed after being reduced from Xcel’s original request of $159.3 million.
This rate change will increase electric bills for typical small-business customers by $4.42 a month, based on usage of 1,025 kilowatt-hours.
A typical residential electric bill will climb $2.94 a month, based on an average usage of 625 kilowatt-hours.
Xcel’s separate, $180 million electric rate hike request that would take effect in 2010 is still pending. The PUC expects to hold hearings on that proposed increase this fall.
Xcel has stated that the approval of both rate-hike requests is needed to help the utility to recover the $1.7 billion it’s spending on generation, transmission and distribution improvements in Colorado.
These upgrades include Xcel’s new 750-megawatt generating Comanche 3 coal facility Xcel’s Comanche Generating Station in Pueblo and the addition of 300 megawatts of generation at the Fort St. Vrain Generating Station in Platteville.
Electrical rates can be expected to continue to rise as the price of coal continues to increase.

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Below is a list of 2009 Colorado state legislation that relates to solar, renewable energy and energy efficiency in Denver and all of Colorado. AKA: Green Legislation.  This infomation can be found at: http://www.colorado.gov/energy/index.php?/policy/category/2009-legislation/

2009 House Legislation
1126 “Encourage Solar Thermal Installations” (Hullinghorst/Schaffer) (PDF 32KB)
Allows local governments to provide the same incentives for solar thermal installations - the type of project that uses solar-heated water as an energy source - as exists for solar electric installations. This bill also adds a corresponding exemption from state sales and use tax for solar thermal, similar to what’s in place for solar PV and wind.

1149 “Solar Home Prewire” (Merrifield/M. Carroll) (PDF 28KB) Requires homebuilders to offer prospective homebuyers the option of having their home pre-wired for solar or having a system installed, making it easier to finance renewable energy by folding it into your home mortgage.

1312 “K-12 School Loans” (Kerr/Schwartz & Romer) (PDF 48KB) Creates a loan program to help schools pay for renewable energy projects, as well as hybrid and electric buses, so that more education dollars can be in the classroom instead of on utility bills.

1331 “Incentives for Efficient Motor Vehicles” (Gagliardi/Boyd) (PDF 96KB) Creates incentives through updated tax credits to buy fuel-efficient vehicles as well as convert vehicles to plug-in electric hybrids or compressed natural gas. The bill updates tax credits to exclude certain hybrid SUVs and other vehicles that don’t meet a mile-per-gallon standard.

1345 “Electric Utilities Integrate Transmission Infrastructure” (Solano/Schwartz) (PDF 20KB) Directs the public utilities commission (PUC) to study and report to the general assembly on the construction plans of owners and operators of electric transmission facilities in Colorado. The work will help guide how best to ensure new transmission projects can deliver power from renewable sources to the grid.

1346 “Recovery & Reinvestment Finance Act Of 2009” (T. Carroll/B. Shaffer) (PDF 24KB) Compliments the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and helps the Governor’s Energy Office (GEO) with bonding. Allows the GEO to utilize state Treasurer’s office to issue bonds for renewable energy projects.

2009 Senate Legislation
039 “Conserve Energy Tiered Rates Incentive” (Schwartz/Curry) (PDF 20KB) Authorizes cooperative electric associations to charge graduated rates for high-consuming customers as an ince ntive to encourage residential consumers to be more energy efficient. Also allows associations to establish a fund designed to reduce power demands by helping customers improve energy efficiency, energy conservation and weatherization, as well as install renewable energy.

051 “Renewable Energy Finance Act” (Carroll/Levy) (PDF 48KB) Takes numerous steps to make solar energy systems more affordable for homeowners and improve market conditions for solar energy companies doing business in Colorado. The bill creates financing models that can help homes and businesses spread out the up-front costs of a system over several years, similar to purchasing and financing a car. The bill also provides treasury bonds to participating banks and lenders that will provide more financing options for solar installation.

075 “Low-speed Electric Self-propelled Vehicles” (Schwartz/Marostica) (PDF 36KB) Takes numerous steps to make solar energy systems more affordable for homeowners and improve market conditions for solar energy companies doing business in Colorado. The bill creates financing models that can help homes and businesses spread out the up-front costs of a system over several years, similar to purchasing and financing a car. The bill also provides treasury bonds to participating banks and lenders that will provide more financing options for solar installation.

092 “State Motor Vehicles Use Natural Gas” (Kopp / Marostica) (PDF 20KB) Requires a significant increase in the use of alternative fuels by state-owned motor vehicles, focusing particularly on compressed natural gas as an alternative fuel.

098 “Tax Exempt Blended Diesel Products” (Schwartz/Vigil) (PDF 16KB) Simplifies the tax rebate structure to make blended biodiesel a more financially appealing alternative to traditional diesel.

124 “Extend Ag Energy-Related Projects” (Isgar/Roberts) (PDF 20KB) Extends funding to the Colorado Agricultural Value-Added Development Board to promote agricultural renewable energy-related projects and research, such as those involving biofuels development or wind and solar energy.

171 “New Energy Jobs Program” (Schwartz/Todd and Vigil) (PDF 16KB) Develops job training programs and helps companies train employees for participation in Colorado’s New Energy Economy.

177 “New Solar Facility Property Tax Valuation” (Schwartz/Vigil) (PDF 24KB) This bill standardizes the method for property value assessment of solar energy facilities and wind energy facilities. This will mean longer-term economic benefit to the local community over the life of a large-scale solar system.

297 “Expedite Federal Stimulus Act Projects” (Sandoval/Judd) (PDF 28KB) This bill allows the GEO to use Clean Energy Fund dollars for revolving loan programs, thus giving additional life to recovery dollars which can revolve back to the state for use in additional renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.

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