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Denver, CO
Credit: Denver Office of Economic Development
View of Denver’s skyline from City Park.
With an average of 300 sunny days per year, Denver (also known as the Mile High City) has the 5th best solar potential in the country. The city is doing its part to overcome barriers to widespread solar technology adoption. Through its “Solar Cities Partnership” (Denver’s Solar America Cities project name), Denver will fundamentally change the energy market in the city by establishing solar as a mainstream energy resource option. It will lead by example and help Colorado fulfill Governor Bill Ritter’s goal of creating a New Energy Economy by expanding the use of renewable energy resources.
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Credit:Denver Office of Economic Development
Bicyclists enjoy a summer day at Commons Park
Credit:Denver International Airport
2 megawatt PV system at Denver International Airport
Credit:George Sparks
100 kilowatt PV system at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science
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Activities
Through its Solar Cities Partnership, the City of Denver will create a solar market implementation plan. The plan will identify the most appropriate role for municipal governments to expand solar technology market penetration in the residential, commercial, and government sectors. The Cities of Aurora and Boulder and Boulder County join Denver in this Partnership. Each will play a distinct role in breaking down solar market barriers.
- Address one of the largest barriers to residential solar installation – upfront capital cost – through such strategies as:
- Citywide tax rebates
- Creation of a municipal solar fund to reimburse initial costs. Property owners would repay installation and debt service through a property tax assessment.
- Evaluate the nearly 300 city-owned and operated buildings to identify facilities for future municipal solar installations.
- Provide education and outreach to the Denver community through:
- Public outreach events, publications, and tours to increase solar awareness
- Information dissemination on solar rebates and other financing mechanisms
- Support of Denver’s neighborhood-based Residential Climate Challenge
- The city’s Greenprint Denver Web site.
- Develop policies, design standards, regulations, and finance mechanisms to encourage the incorporation of solar installations into surface parking lots. The city will identify a highly visible demonstration site.
- Plan new training and job opportunities for Metro Denver residents in the solar energy industry to meet the expected increase in demand.
Partners
- Colorado Renewable Energy Society
- E-Star Colorado
- Environment Colorado
- Governor’s Energy Office
- Greenprint Denver (Project Lead)
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
- Lowry Energy Initiative
- Xcel Energy
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