Local, State and Federal Solar Energy Legislation & Regulation

LOCAL

Boulder County: Ballot 1A allowed Boulder County to issue bonds for the purpose of providing financing options for renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements via a "Clean Energy Options Local Improvement District." ClimateSmart Loan Program>

STATE

Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC)

• Xcel Energy's Compliance Plan 2010 (filed 10/28/09) | Compliance Plan
• Xcel Energy's Electric Rate Case (filed 5/1/09) | Rate Case
  CoSEIA's Answer Testimony filed 10/2/09 | Testimony 
  Hearings on Phase II Issues are set for January 11-22, 2010 | Decision No. C09-0858 
• Proposed Amendments to the PUC's Renewable Energy Standard (filed 10/31/08) | Initial Comments from CoSEIA
• Xcel Energy's Solar*Rewards Rebate Program | Program Overview | Tiered Rate Prices

General Assembly Legislation

Not finding what you want? Visit the Colorado General Assembly's bill search engine for a comprehensive listing of current and past legislation | Bill Search  

Session 2009

• HB09-1126 Encourage Solar Thermal, Hullingshorst:  Provides the same state sales tax exemption for solar thermal systems that renewable electric systems currently enjoy. 
• HB09-1136: Electrical Education License Requirement, Soper: We are taking great care in helping define what parts of renewable energy systems can only be worked on by licensed electricians.
• HB09-1149: Solar Ready Homes Prewire/and Preplumb, Merrifield:  Like most bills, a compromise between what we want and other interests. Under certain circumstances requires a homebuilder to offer solar installation or solar pre-wiring and/or pre-plumbing. Approved Installers List >   
• SB09-051: Renewable Energy Financing Act, M. Carroll:  Provides some changes to last year's RE Financing Act including allowing Commercial loans for RE and EE. Allows 3rd party residential financing with certain requirements. It also requires Xcel and Black Hills to offer customers indefinite carryover for annual excess electricity for net metered customers.

 Session 2008

• HB 08-1160: Net Metering for Co-ops & Munis
• HB 08-1270: Homeowner Associations - Limitations on what renewable and efficiency projects can be prohibited or limited
• HB 08-1350: City & County Low Interest Loans for RE & EE
• HB 08-1368: Taxation Property Used to Produce Renewable Energy (old 07-145)
• SB 08-117: Limitation of City & County Permit Fees for Solar $500 residential:$1000 commercial
• SB 08-184: Clean Energy Financing; Statewide low-interest loans for RE & EE. Max of $12,500

Session 2007

• HB 07-1169: Net Metering for Co-ops
• HB 07-1281: Expansion of Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard to 20% by 2020; To Include Co-ops and Muni's
• SB 07-145: Original Sales and Use Tax Exemption
• SB 07-246: Established Clean Energy Fund in the Governor’s Energy Office

FEDERAL

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)

• Key Provisions Benefiting the Solar Energy Industry: SEIA: Executive Summary of Recovery Bill>
• Presentation and overview of ARRA by the Governor's Energy Office and PUC March 10, 2009
  Tom Plant, Director of Governor's Energy Office (.ppt)    Ronald J. Binz, COPUC Chairman (.ppt)
  click here for the PDF version (reformatted and reposted March 12 for better viewing).

Investment Tax Credits

The Investment Tax Credit (ITC) is a reduction in the overall tax liability for individuals or businesses that make investments in a variety of pre-determined areas. For solar-electric and solar water heating residential property expenditures, the credit is 30 percent of the cost, with a maximum cap of $2000 (26 USC 25D). For commercial installations the credit is 30 percent of the installed cost with no monetary cap (26 USC 48).

In 2007, global investment in clean energy topped $100 billion, with solar energy as the leading clean energy candidate for venture capital and private equity investment. Nations across the globe are competing to corner the market on solar energy technologies, and to capitalize on the job growth potential and economic gain associated with this promising industry. The ITC provides the necessary financial support and catalyzing market forces to ensure the growth of this emerging technology.Current U.S. tax incentives for renewable energy, in particular solar energy, are set to expire on Dec. 31, 2008. The U.S. Congress generally agrees that it is desirable for the ITC to be extended, but the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate are at a political impasse as to how to accomplish the extension. http://www.seia.org/