The Governor's Energy Office (GEO) is pleased to announce the launch of its Residential Solar Program. This program was created in response to the growing demand of homeowners to reduce their carbon footprint, participate in the New Energy Economy, and to take advantage of Colorado 's abundant solar resources.

The Colorado Solar Industries Association (CoSEIA) is proud to have been selected to administer the GEO's Residential Solar Program. This program is an important step toward making solar technologies more accessible to residents in areas of the state that have not been able to take advantage of popular Solar Electric rebate programs offered in Xcel Energy and Aquila areas. The GEO Residential Solar Program will also create Solar Domestic Hot Water rebate programs in Colorado , advancing this cost-effective and underutilized technology.

PLEASE NOTE that this is NOT a direct-to-homeowner rebate from the state.

GEO RESIDENTIAL SOLAR PROGRAM

GENERAL PROGRAM INFORMATION

The following information is provided to convey general information about the Governor's Energy Office (GEO) Residential Solar Program. You may click on a link below to advance to the various sections of this information.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
PROGRAM PARTNER CONTACT INFORMATION
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

At the beginning of 2008, the GEO launched the Residential Solar Program as a pilot-phase program, with a goal of extending rebates on residential solar technologies to as many Colorado residents as possible and over a broad geographical area. The available funding for this program was effectively doubled by GEO's decision to partner with cities, counties, utilities, and non-profit organizations through a Matching Grant Program. These matching grant funds are provided to the selected Program Partners to assist them with setting up their own local solar rebate programs for their residents.

Another goal of this pilot-phase program is to allow a high degree of flexibility to the Program Partners when designing their local rebate programs, so that a diversity of information can be gathered to inform an expanded program should additional funding be allocated in the future. As such, there are several differences among the individual rebate programs. For this reason, only general program information is provided below; for detailed local program information, please contact your local Program Partners or visit their websites. Also for this reason, please bear in mind that the specifics of this program are subject to change in any future embodiment of this program, based on the valuable information gleaned and lessons learned from this pilot phase.

There was an enormous response to this Matching Grant offering, making the grant awardee decision a difficult one. Ultimately the Program Partners listed below were selected to participate in the pilot program.

Two solar technologies are potentially eligible for this rebate program, and they are funded separately through different Program Partners: Photovoltaic (PV) and Solar Domestic Hot Water (SDHW). The list of Program Partners at the bottom of the page differentiates between programs for the two technologies.

 

PROGRAM PARTNER CONTACT INFORMATION

Please click here for a complete PDF file showing the program partner contact information.

 

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

Please remember that these are the MINIMUM parameters set forth by the program; individual Program Partners have flexibility to go beyond the requirements listed here for their local programs. Please visit your local Program Partners' websites or contact their Program Managers for information specific to your local rebate programs. All rebate applications will be submitted through the Program Partners, and NOT through the GEO or CoSEIA.

Again, please recognize that we are currently in the pilot phase of this program. The details and requirements set forth here are subject to modification by GEO as deemed necessary, and these requirements are subject to change in any future embodiment of this program.

We anticipate that various installation scenarios may arise and raise questions not addressed in these requirements. Please understand that as a pilot program, we will be striving to develop smoothly operating rebate processes and policies. While we do not wish to be exclusive of special installation circumstances with this program, we have observed through the example of other similar programs that consideration of such circumstances can be disruptive to the initial implementation of a new program. Please bear with us and understand that we will attempt to answer all questions and consider all scenarios for future expansion of this program, but that in order for the pilot phase to operate as smoothly as possible we must limit the participation during this phase to a more narrow set of eligibility requirements.

REBATE AMOUNTS:

In the case of both technologies, the allowable range within which each Partner can set their programs' rebate levels have been capped in order to 1) promote energy efficiency to reduce the need for large renewable energy systems, and 2) maximize the number of citizens that receive rebates through this program. Systems that exceed this "rebate cap" in size may be installed, but rebates will only be provided for the program-designated portion of any system.

•  PV: total maximum rebate amounts may vary between $3,000 and $6,000.
•  SDHW: total maximum rebate amounts may vary between $750 and $3,000.

SYSTEM INSTALLATION and APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:

•  Permit sign-offs must be submitted as part of the rebate application and documentation process, to demonstrate that all rebated systems are installed according to appropriate national, state and local code and design parameters.
•  Systems must be installed at a tilt angle and azimuth that will provide 90% of the estimated energy production that the system, as designed, would produce at optimum tilt and azimuth.
      •  PV: installers may use PV Watts to demonstrate eligibility
      •  SDHW: installers may use RetScreen to demonstrate eligibility
•  SDHW collectors must be SRCC OG100 rated as follows:
     •  Minimum of 60,000BTU/day, based on SRCC rating for clear day/C interval (see http://www.solar-rating.org/ratings/ratings.htm , download "Summary of SRCC certified solar collector and water heating system ratings"), with nominal 80 gallon minimum solar tank size.
     •  50% of maximum rebates may be allowed by the Program Partners for 1-panel systems that meet 30,000 BTU/day (same SRCC basis as above), with nominal 50 gallon minimal solar tank size.

ENERGY AUDIT REQUIREMENTS:

•  All rebate recipients will be required to obtain some level of an Energy Audit as part of the prerequisites for receiving a rebate, and an Audit Report must be submitted as part of the rebate application and documentation process. The purpose of this requirement is to demonstrate that at a minimum, recipients have been informed and educated about the efficiency performance of their homes, and that energy efficiency improvements are a critical first step when considering renewable energy systems for their homes.

Partners will make the final decision on the specific type and scope of audit to be required for their particular programs, but the following MINIMUM requirements apply:

•  PV: An actual site-visit based, visual audit must be performed on the home. This can be performed by the Partner, a non-profit, or a private company offering those services. Blower door tests are not part of the minimum requirements for the program, but are recommended as part of a more thorough audit.
•  SDHW: Any level of energy audit may be performed, including a computer-based or online audit, as long as an Audit Report can be generated and submitted. An actual site-visit based, visual audit is recommended, but not required.

MISCELLANEOUS REQUIREMENTS:

•  PV must be grid-tied and net metered (battery backup is allowed, off-grid is not)
•  Systems must be installed at applicant's primary and year-round residence, located in Colorado, in order to be considered eligible for a rebate through this program.
•  Rebates may NOT be made retroactive for installations initiated prior to the official launch date of any Program Partners' individual rebate program. Applications may only be accepted by Partners for NEW installations that have not been started prior to that launch date.
•  Homeowner-installed systems do not qualify for a rebate through this program at this time.
•  Systems may be subject to a Verification inspection by Program Administrators at any time during 2008. Care will be taken to minimize inconvenience to the homeowners; inspections will be brief, permission to enter property will be requested, and advance notice will be provided.
•  All participants will be asked to respond to a Program Survey after the rebate process is complete.
•  The pilot phase of this program extends through 2008 only.

The GEO and CoSEIA Program Administrators reserve the right to modify any requirement on a case-by-case basis, if such exception is deemed to serve the overriding purpose of this exploratory program.

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Check back soon for more information

Administration of this program is funded by the Governor's Energy Office. Such support by the GEO does not constitute their endorsement of the views expressed here.