New Clean Energy Collective Joins the Senator on Escalating Solar Adoption with Clean Energy Tax Credit

Reported by Staff

CARBONDALE – U.S. Senator Mark Udall has announced his new bill intended to create jobs, strengthen the clean energy industry, reduce taxes and increase the use of solar power in Colorado. Joined on a press conference call by two Western Slope business leaders—Paul Spencer of the Clean Energy Collective and Steve Casey of Holy Cross Energy—the Senator introduced his Solar Uniting Neighborhoods (SUN) Act of 2010, which will modernize the tax code regarding solar energy, enabling homeowners who invest in larger, more cost-effective community solar projects or “solar farms” to take a 30 percent tax credit just like individuals who install PV on their houses.

Supporters say the approach represents the future of clean energy, providing solar ownership to all residents, including renters, those with reduced incomes and homeowners in solar-challenged locations – possibilities not supported by the existing tax code or traditional solar model. “It will expand the use of our abundant solar power, strengthen Colorado’s renewable energy industry and create good-paying jobs throughout our state,” says Udall.

“This model makes solar available to absolutely everyone,” said Paul Spencer, founder of Carbondale -based Clean Energy Collective. “This will increase the region’s solar adoption by 67% in the next five years,” predicts Spencer.

In addition to the new legislation, a key component of the model is an innovative collaboration with the energy utility. “One of the vital benefits we see from this model is a utility-scale community system fully integrated with the utility and, more importantly, one that is perpetually operated and maintained,” said Steve Casey of Holy Cross Energy, which provides power to most Roaring Fork Valley consumers. “The CEC model, in conjunction with Senator Udall’s efforts to help establish tax credit parody, provides a unique vehicle for our members to participate and enjoy the benefits of renewable energy generation,” adds Casey.

– a member-owned cooperative venture that is building, operating and maintaining community-based clean energy facilities. Based in Carbondale, Colorado, the CEC is pioneering the model of delivering clean power-generation through medium-scale facilities that are collectively owned by participating utility customers. The CEC’s proprietary RemoteMeter™ system automatically calculates monthly credits for members and integrates with existing utility billing systems to make this model a reality. The CEC is working to leverage its model with regional partners nationwide.