COLORADO
Solar in Colorado
The Centennial State is one of the sunniest regions in the country, thanks to its annual average of 300 days of sunshine and mild weather.* With the state’s abundance of sunshine, it’s no wonder that 86% of its buildings are solar-viable with the capacity to produce 24.7 million MWh AC each year.*
As of the first quarter of 2021, Colorado is the 14th state in the nation for solar power production, with 1,755.9 MW installed, capable of powering up to 340,720 homes.* Though the state has a great potential to be a beacon for clean energy, only 3% of its electricity came from solar power in 2019.*
Colorado has a high potential for solar energy production. The state receives an average of 5.5 hours of sunshine per day, and the average annual solar irradiance is 5.33 kWh/m2. This means that solar panels in Colorado can generate a significant amount of electricity.
Solar potential in Colorado?
Colorado has a high potential for solar energy production. The state receives an average of 5.5 hours of sunshine per day, and the average annual solar irradiance is 5.33 kWh/m2. This means that solar panels in Colorado can generate a significant amount of electricity.
Cost of solar in Colorado?
The cost of a home solar system can vary, even in the same state, due to a range of factors. These include:
The household’s energy needs
Quality of the solar panels
Solar system provider
Size and angle of the roof
In Colorado, we found that the average cost of owning a 5 kW solar system ranges from $12,000 to $16,250, or, in other words, from $2.40 to $3.25 per watt. And that’s before considering the benefits of any available tax credits or incentives.
With the cost of installing solar solutions dropping about 43% over the last five years, it is now less expensive to go solar in Colorado.* Property owners can reduce their initial solar panel purchase and installation expenses by taking advantage of state and federal incentives for embracing clean energy.
All Colorado residents can claim the federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) when they file their income taxes for the year they install a new solar system on their private residence. With the ITC, you can receive a 30% tax credit on the entire cost of solar PV panels, installation, permitting, and labor.*
Net metering is another program that incentivizes residents to go solar in Colorado. Under this program, property owners can sell back the surplus solar energy their system produces to the local electric grid for credit on their utility bills.*
Local rebates also make it easy to go solar without requiring a high budget. Many local organizations and utility companies provide cash rebates to residents and customers who invest in solar power for their homes and businesses.
For example, Holy Cross Energy, which serves the Western Colorado Counties of Eagle, Pitkin, Garfield, Mesa, and Gunnison, provides customers with a per-kW rebate to reduce solar system installation expenses. This rebate saves homeowners an average of $4,500 on a typical 6 kW system installation.*
Please note that tax credits and incentives are subject to change. Similarly, the availability of net metering varies by location and is subject to change. Visit dsireusa.org for detailed solar policy information.
Advantages?
Here are some of the advantages of going solar in Colorado:
Lower electricity bills: Solar panels can generate electricity for your home, which can help you save money on your electricity bills. The average Colorado homeowner can save up to $40,000 on their electricity bills over the lifetime of their solar system.
Increased home value: Solar panels can add value to your home, making it more attractive to potential buyers. Studies have shown that homes with solar panels sell for an average of $20,000 more than homes without solar panels.
Reduced carbon footprint: Solar power is a clean, renewable source of energy that can help you reduce your carbon footprint and contribute to a healthier environment. Solar panels produce no emissions, which can help improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Solar solutions don’t emit greenhouse gases, so the panels have virtually no impact on the global climate. You could reduce your household’s carbon footprint by more than 35,000 pounds of harmful emissions per year by switching to home solar panels.*
Financial incentives: Colorado offers a number of financial incentives that can help offset the cost of solar panels. These incentives include the federal solar tax credit, state rebates, and utility company incentives.
Many rebate programs: There are a number of rebate programs available for solar energy systems in Colorado.
Home solar looks even more attractive considering that Colorado homeowners who choose to install a PV system can enjoy 30% in federal solar tax credit.* Additionally, the state offers lucrative solar incentives that include 25% (up to $1000) state solar tax credit, property tax exemption on added value, and 5.6% sales tax exemption.
Disadvantages?
Shade: Solar panels need direct sunlight to generate electricity. If your home is in a shady area, or things are covering your panels you may not be able to generate as much electricity with solar panels.
Weather: Some Solar panels can be damaged by hail, snow, and strong winds. However, our solar panels are designed to withstand these conditions and even extreme weather conditions like hurricanes, tornado, and blizzards.
Panels aesthetic: Our solar panels are different. They are all black, sleek, and thin. They have a more modern look. Some people find solar panels on homes unattractive and if your feel like that we also offer Ground mount installations. It’s a great option if you have open land that receives good sunlight.
Colorado state policies?
Federal solar tax credit: The federal government offers an investment tax credit (ITC) of 30% for solar energy systems installed in Colorado. This means that if you install a solar system in Colorado, you can claim a tax credit of 30% of the cost of your system. This can save you a significant amount of money on your taxes.
State rebates: There are a number of rebate programs available for solar energy systems in Colorado. These rebate programs can help to offset the cost of your solar system.
Utility company incentives: Some utility companies in Colorado offer incentives for homeowners who install solar panels. These incentives can include discounts on your electricity bill or payments for excess electricity that you generate.
Net metering: Net metering is a policy that allows solar customers to sell excess electricity back to their utility company at the retail rate. This can help to offset the cost of your solar system.
Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs): SRECs are tradable credits that represent the environmental attributes of solar power. Utilities in Colorado are required to purchase SRECs from solar generators, which can provide additional income for homeowners with solar panels.
Property tax exemption: Solar panels are exempt from property taxes in Colorado. This means that you will not have to pay property taxes on the value of your solar panels. This can save you money on your property taxes each year.
Sales tax exemption: Solar panels are exempt from sales tax in Colorado. This means that you will not have to pay sales tax on the purchase of your solar panels. This can save you money on the cost of your solar system.
Maintaining Solar panels?
Solar panels are relatively low-maintenance. However, you should have them cleaned every few years to remove dirt, dust, and debris. You can clean your solar panels yourself, or you can hire a professional to do it for you.
What's the best way to go solar?
Are you interested in going solar in Colorado? If so, we can help!
Before going solar, be sure to keep in mind factors that will affect the output of clean energy to your home. For instance, South-facing roofs generate the most energy, followed by west-facing roofs. North-facing roofs generate the least amount of energy. We look into multiple aspects to make sure you have the most effective setup such as roof orientation, roof pitch, shade, and weather.
We offer a free virtual consultation and savings report to help you determine if solar is right for you. We will also help you access solar incentives and rebates to reduce the cost of installation.
Freedom Forever solar panels system is Top-Tier and backed by a 25-year full system production guarantee. We also offer a satisfaction guarantee, so you can be sure that you are making the right decision and test it out stress free.
If you are interested in learning more about solar power in Colorado, please contact us today for a free virtual consultation.
We look forward to helping you make the switch to solar!