Development Policy

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Building Solar Friendly Communities in Colorado

Rooftop solar is an important part of our future electricity system because of its ability to enhance energy security, protect against volatile fuel prices and retail electricity rate increases, and mitigate environmental issues. But, for rooftop solar to play its role—both on the national and local level—costs must come down.

21May2012 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
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New Mexico: Wind Industry, Conservation Groups Partner to Protect Wildlife

The industry and environmental groups, joined by state agencies and others, formed the New Mexico Wind and Wildlife Collaborative to draw up and disseminate best practices to preserve habitats and species.

11May2012 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
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Bird Deaths Haunt Wind Energy —
Interior Puts Forth a Plan

Environmentalists are facing a conundrum: To fight green energy projects that they see as detrimental to their cause or to work with the developers and the authorities to minimize damages. The U.S. Dept. of Interior has made some suggestions that it thinks will help alleviate bird deaths associated with wind energy.

23Apr2012 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
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Performance-Based Incentives: The New Face
of Residential Solar

Home solar PV is an investment that carries the potential for risk and reward and it relies upon future factors. The economic viability of a system depends largely upon which Solar*Rewards Step a participant purchases under and how much Xcel Energy’s electricity prices change.

27Feb2012 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
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What Paybacks and Costs are Colorado PV Consumers Really Facing?

While a new agreement on installation rebates and a pay-for-performance structure was hammered out following the Solar*Rewards restructuring, the most commonly asked question remains: How much will PV for my home really
cost me now?

23Feb2012 | admin | 1 comment | Continued
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Xcel Asks State PUC to Exclude Boulder
From Programs (Unless)

The utility is asking state regulators to allow it to exclude Boulder customers from certain renewable energy and demand side management programs –unless the city guarantees it will assume the their costs if the city forms a new municipal utility.

21Feb2012 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
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Bennet, Moran Make Bipartisan Push to Extend Wind Energy Tax Credit

The Colorado and Kansas U.S. Senators have filed an amendment that would extend the wind energy production tax credit (PTC) for one year to a bill currently under debate in the U.S. Senate. The extension of the wind PTC is fully paid for. Senator Mark Udall (D-CO) is a cosponsor of the amendment.

21Feb2012 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
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Incubator Program Expands Reach

DOE is accepting proposals for the seventh round
of the SunShot Incubator program, which jumpstarted Colorado-based Primestar now owned by GE. Construction is underway for a $600 million plant in Aurora to commercially produce the company’s NREL-based cadmium telluride solar technology.

14Feb2012 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
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Members of Colorado Delegation Push for Extension of Wind Tax Credit

Seven members of the Colorado Congressional Delegation called on a congressional conference committee to extend the wind energy production tax credit (PTC) as part of the payroll tax extension. The wind PTC has helped drive substantial economic growth in Colorado

8Feb2012 | admin | 1 comment | Continued
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Proposed Wind Farm for Boulder Could Power Xcel’s Largest Customers

The two changes proposed would drop the rates for smaller purchasers, including residential customers, from $2.16 per 100 kilowatt-hours to $1, a move that would make Xcel’s prices more competitive with other green energy purchase programs available in Colorado.

30Jan2012 | admin | 1 comment | Continued
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Can Solar Thermal Technology be a Colorado
Jobs Builder?

“The technologies offer impressive economic benefits for Coloradoans,” notes Neal Lurie of the Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association. “Not only do they help consumers reduce their monthly utility bills, but solar thermal is a labor-intensive business that provides significant job creation benefits.”

25Jan2012 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
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Salazar Talks Solar and Mining Projects Near
the Grand Canyon

On sustaining the solar tax credits, the Interior Secretary said “incentivizing these new entrants into the energy market is important. We give tax breaks to the oil and gas companies all across the country … There is every reason to provide incentives to the solar-energy world because of their importance.”

16Jan2012 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
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Eight Things to Watch in Colorado’s Solar
Marketplace in 2012

One big issue is repowering commercial-scale solar. The state PUC is expected to finalize its ruling on Xcel Energy’s 2012-2013 renewable energy compliance plan in the first quarter, which will significantly influence the number of megawatts that will be added this year.

6Jan2012 | admin | 0 comments | Continued
Older Entries
  • The Outpost

    The
    Outpost

    Mandatory Efficiency Requirements in Boulder?

    Unsatisfied with the energy reductions achieved through voluntary incentives, the Flatirons City is considering creating a mandatory energy-efficiency program for the commercial and industrial sector.The program would be similar to the city’s SmartRegs program, which introduced energy-efficiency requirements for rental housing.

    READ THE FULL POST »


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