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1. Since the year 2010, Colorado's electricity reliability based on renewable sources has doubled!  As of 2019, 25% net generation has been led by solar power and wind power.
2. Colorado ranks number 7 on the largest natural-gas producing states list and number 6 on the list of states with natural gas reserves
3. In 2019, Colorado’s coal-fired power plants provided 45% of Colorado’s net generation.  This is a huge downsize from 2010 when it was 68%.  Clearly, electricity that comes from natural gas is on the rise

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Energy Information Administration - EIA - Official Energy Statistics from the U.S. Government

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In this picture, we see how soon the great state of Colorado can be more reliant on renewable energy.
By the year 2030, Colorado is projected to have over 30% more renewable energy

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Where does Colorado rank along with the other 49 states?
Colorado is among the top 20 for states who use the most renewable energy. Colorado is ranked #1 on the list of all 50 states when it comes to best economy. Colorado is in the top 20 states for those who release the least amount of pollution.
Colorado's statistics across the charts are scattered. These statistics are sustainable because we can learn where states rank on lists about certain facts.
Colorado ranks in many different spots which is why this is so important. Impacting others is essential because of the amounts of pollution you emit can cause significant damage to other people's health as well as your health and safety.

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Where Does Colorado Place in the U.S. News Best States Rankings?

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Colorado ranks as the 10th best state in the U.S. It has the best economy and is among those experiencing the most growth in its GDP and population.

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Colorado is slowly becoming more energy efficient. We are now changing coal powered items a newer and better way, solar powered. Plus, even though a little bit of coal power will remain, the price will significantly decrease.

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Coal economics have passed the cost crossover point with renewables - 179 gigawatts (GW) of coal plants in the United States were more expensive to operate than replacing them with new local solar or wind energy in 2018. But even though opportunities abound for utilities to economically transition from existing coal to new renewables, annual coal plant retirement rates are closer to 10 GW.

When utilities and regulators fail to act upon this fundamental economic change, relentless consumer pressure will result, forcing utilities to adapt or risk losing customers.

An innovative new financial approach is accelerating the electric sector's financial transition from coal to clean. "Solar for coal swaps" could help refinance the 26 GW of existing coal plants that will be uneconomic compared to local renewables in the near term, using private capital to fund community-level investment for publicly-owned cooperative retail utilities, while supporting local economic development.

As consumers, corporations, municipalities, and energy market participants explore switching from fossil fuels to renewables, financial innovators stand ready to deploy capital to accelerate this transition. Because the conditions enabling these swaps already exist across the country, this tool could drive the financial transition to clean energy faster than expected.

Coal plant cooling tower demolition
Energy Innovation

"Investors can earn returns by substituting solar for coal, saving consumers money and improving the environment," said Ron Lehr, former Colorado Public Utility Commission Chairman and co-author of the research brief. "It's an example of what smart money does: Invest to make a return when fundamental economics shift."
What are solar for coal swaps?
Solar for coal swaps involve third parties - an energy marketer, a renewables developer, and related investors - purchasing and retiring coal assets from a regulated utility in conjunction with a contract for new solar. Transaction terms include payment for solar power plant output, repayment for purchasing and decommissioning coal plants, and may include financing for community transition. Deal structures may vary, but the basic terms are:

1. Offer to substitute new solar for old coal

2. Underwrites offer with financing from private sector investors

3. Buy out coal investments with payment to plant owner

4. Transfer coal plants to new owner

5. New owner retires coal and decommissions plant with negotiated site remediation

6. Original coal owner likely maintains long-term environmental liabilities

7. Replace coal energy with new solar plus energy and access grid services through market purchases

8. Consumers repay coal purchase and solar investment through rates, but pay less due to solar costs that are lower than coal.

New solar facilities provide most of the required power when they replace coal plants, paired with a mix of market-sourced resources to meet reliability requirements. Replacement solar power can be located near retired fossil plants, tapping existing switchyards and transmission, and partially replacing the coal plant's tax and employment base.

Solar farm in New Mexico
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For example, Public Service Company of Colorado (PSCo) recently decided to retire two coal plants in Pueblo, Colorado. PSCo directed solar replacement power bidders to focus their projects in Pueblo County, where retiring coal plants were located. PSCo also facilitated provision of a behind-the-meter solar installation for Evraz, a large steel fabrication electricity customer. Recent New Mexico legislation similarly required solar projects be located in San Juan County to offset impacts of retiring Public Service Company of New Mexico's (PNM) San Juan power plant.
Going around the incumbent monopoly power providers
This emerging third-party financing and market approach reflects competitive pressure on existing utility business models where utilities have failed to adapt. Similar dynamics emerge when large industrial or commercial customers, such as large casinos in Nevada, or communities or institutions with zero carbon or 100% renewables goals directly seek to procure clean energy resources for themselves at savings and lower risk than incumbent utilities can provide.

While solar for coal swaps exemplify third-party transition finance for consumer-owned cooperatives, similar pressures are emerging for monopoly utilities from large customers, local governments, and institutions with enough buying power to renegotiate terms that meet their requirements for cleaner and cheaper energy supplies.

Third parties see potential profits in providing these services to utilities because utilities lack of motivation to undertake these tasks - but it's critical to ask whether utilities will engage in productive negotiations with these third-party investors and marketers. Delays and objections from utilities could suggest resistance to engage with third party providers - which challenge utilities' reasons to exist - and remain a barrier to financing the transition away from coal.
Sizing up the market for solar for coal swaps
Municipal and cooperative utilities own about 44 GW of coal, and are typically not regulated by state utility commissions, but rather are subject to control by their boards of directors or municipal or special district officials. "Solar for coal" swaps could be particularly advantageous for municipal and publicly owned utilities that could benefit from financial, technology, and market innovations provided by third parties.

Capacity of uneconomic coal in years 2018 and 2025 by type of ownership.
Energy Innovation

According to a 2019 analysis 15 GW, or 34% of municipal or cooperative-owned coal assets were uneconomic to operate compared to local wind or solar replacement energy in 2018. By 2025, the economics of renewables improve such that 26 GW, or 59% of these plants are uneconomic. These are resources within 35 miles of a coal plant, making solar for coal swaps viable tools to promote economic development in the same communities.

Since 2018, solar and wind cost declines have exceeded forecasts, making 2018-vintage estimates of 2025 costs closer to 2020's reality. In other words, more than half of cooperative- or muni-owned coal plants are likely already uneconomic compared to local wind or solar assets, with that number growing if non-local clean replacements are considered.
Solar for coal swaps in practice
A recent contract involving New Mexico's Kit Carson Cooperative (KC) illustrates the mechanics of solar for coal swaps. KC paid $37 million to its wholesale power supplier, Tri State Generation and Transmission Cooperative, to exit its "all requirements" power contract. Guzman Energy helped KC finance its Tri State exit fee and contracted to supply KC with power, including a locally sited solar plant, so economic development benefits accrue to the Taos area served by KC. Even with its exit fee, KC predicts that departing Tri-State will save its cooperative member-owners $50-70 million.

Holy Cross Energy (HCE)is a Colorado retail cooperative with approximately 58,000 meters, serving communities in three Western Slope Colorado counties including Aspen and Vail. HCE's power supplies were provided by PSCo, including an 8% stake in capacity and energy output from PSCo's Comanche 3 coal plant. HCE and Guzman Energy developed a swap where HCE sold Guzman its ownership share of energy from Comanche 3 in exchange for a new 100 MW wind farm and a blend of wholesale market energy supply. Including larger amounts of lower cost renewable energy and renewable energy credits than those available from PSCo keeps HCE rates stable while helping meet its 70% renewable energy goal.

Delta Montrose Electric Association (DMEA) another cooperative distribution company served by Tri State, and a prominent dissenter within Tri State's family of distribution cooperatives, also pursued the model established by KC. DMEA has desired alternatives to add local renewable energy beyond Tri State's 5% limit, and its members voted to qualify as a new membership category that provides financing rather than take power, showing support for a clean energy transition with new financing members. DMEA and Tri State ultimately agreed to an undisclosed exit fee.

In June 2019, media reports detailed deuling press releases from Guzman Energy and Tri State. Guzman made a $500 million offer to retire about 50% of Tri State's remaining coal fleet, reliably substituting a generation portfolio composed of more than 70% renewable energy, while lowering costs and providing millions in transition funding for affected workers and communities. Tri State responded that it believed its not-for-profit cooperative business model was more likely to meet customer goals for clean power at lower cost. Guzman's approach to negotiation by press release appears to have failed, for now.

The scale and audacity of Guzman's bid to refinance and retire most of Tri State's uneconomic coal generation fleet shows the potential of renewable for coal swaps to accelerate the coal to clean financial transition. Hard-eyed capitalists are clearly willing to back solar against coal on a large-scale, and other financiers would likely sponsor this kind of investment, while the ubiquity of solar and wind costs falling below coal's operating costs will increase the underlying drivers of these deals. Recently, Tri State announced that it will exit coal mining and coal generated electricity production by 2050, in alignment with Colorado climate goals and in stark contrast to their previous strategy.
How utilities can seize the solar for coal swap opportunity
Publicly-owned and municipal utility governing boards can consider solar for coal swaps to accelerate transition away from uneconomic coal, with the following considerations:

Consumer savings or rate stability can be achieved along with transition to cleaner resources that satisfies consumer demand

Local economic development options can be created through solar for coal transactions

Pressure created on recalcitrant utilities by these new options can result in striking changes in their strategy and outlook

Private sector financial, technology, and market capabilities can be brought to bear on behalf of utilities who might not have these levels of expertise on staff

Regulated investor-owned utilities should note these transactions have wide application for their largest customers, including municipalities and large corporations. For example, there's no reason the same framework can't be applied to portfolios of clean energy resources including solar, wind, and storage. Facilitating customer demands for lower-cost renewables can preempt private capital whose innovations will provide increasing options for large customers to rely less and less on utility supply for cost-effective service.

While these examples are all related to solar and coal costs within Colorado, New Mexico, and Tri State's service territory, their application could be imagined in many other circumstances. When fundamental economics shift - building solar cheaper than running old coal plants - new economic relationships are likely to emerge first somewhere. As f ossil and renewable cost differentials widen, more swaps could make sense in more places.

... Read More

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Energy Innovation: Policy and Technology

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'Solar For Coal' Swaps: A Financial Innovation That Could Accelerate The Carbon Transition

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Utilities must rapidly focus on financing the transition away from uneconomic coal while generating shareholder earnings. "Solar for coal" swaps is an emerging model for refinancing the 22.5 GW of existing coal plants that will be uneconomic compared to building new local solar in 2025.

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This type of energy will be so useful in the future.  It's also very useful now.  Colorado is a very beautiful and majestic state.  Using renewable energy won't emit as much pollution which can help both humans and wildlife.
And so, I am urging you to agree with my idea and pass it to keep Colorado beautiful, safe, healthy, majestic, wonderful, and so many more.

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Renewable Energy in Colorado works in many different ways, including recycling energy and helping restore energy as well
It is better than most other options because of the fact that it provides more jobs and doesn't emit as much pollution
It is used for job creation, fuel, electricity, and more

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The Colorado Residential Energy Upgrate Loan - the RENU Loan - is a statewide residential loan program sponsored by the Colorado Energy Office in partnership with Elevations Credit Union. The RENU Loan makes home energy upgrades like energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements easy and affordable - here's how.

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The Polis administration plans to have Colorado using 100% renewable energy by 2040
Plus, how Polis and his administration are taking serious climate change actions

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Colorful Colorado Keeps America’s Energy Efficiency Robust, Vibrant, and Innovative

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Colorful Colorado Keeps America’s Energy Efficiency Robust, Vibrant, and Innovative

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Colorado was hit extremely hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. LNG authorizations have been extended until the year 2050. The DOE has been helping CO. The famous Welcome to Colorado signs represent the majestic mountains and our natural resources

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Colorful Colorado Keeps America's Energy Efficiency Robust, Vibrant, and Innovative

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Colorful Colorado Keeps America's Energy Efficiency Robust, Vibrant, and Innovative

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Colorado was hit very hard by COVID-19. The CREA (Colorado Rural Electric Association) has helped Colorado. And this is very useful because since CREA is helping it could result in less deaths from COVID-19 in Colorado

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Exemplifying the seventh cooperative principle, Concern for Community, Colorado's electric cooperatives joined with the state's co-op power supplier and one of its lenders to donate money to the Colorado Relief Fund in early April. The funds were sent as the first "stay-at-home" order was issued and co-op consumer-members found themselves out of work and businesses were forced to alter their operations or close.

CREA, the trade association for Colorado's electric cooperatives, donated $5,000 to the Colorado Relief Fund. Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, which supplies electricity to 18 of the Colorado's 22 electric cooperatives, donated money to relief funds in Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico and Wyoming that totaled $200,000. Tri-State serves 46 electric co-ops in those four states.

CoBank, a cooperative bank serving electric co-ops and other agribusinesses and Farm Credit associations nationwide, donated $150,000 to the University of Colorado Foundation to support UCHealth's response as the state's leading provider of acute care for COVID-19 victims. The bank also increased funds in its dollar-for-dollar matching program that allows local co-ops to assist nonprofit organizations in rural communities.

Concern for Community is one of the guiding principles for not-for-profit cooperatives. Electric cooperatives, which were formed by local communities, have a long history of supporting their local areas in times of crisis. The co-op response to the COVID-19 crisis is another example of that.

"Cooperatives know well that we are all stronger when we combine our resources and work together to serve our communities," said Rick Gordon, chairman of Tri-State and a director at Mountain View Electric Association in Limon.

"CREA is working throughout this crisis to support its member cooperatives as they support their local communities," said CREA Executive Director Kent Singer. "Together we will get through this."

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Exemplifying the seventh cooperative principle, Concern for Community, Colorado's electric cooperatives joined with the state's co-op power supplier and one of its lenders to donate money to the Colorado Relief Fund in early April. The funds were sent as the first "stay-at-home" order was issued and co-op consumer-members found themselves out of work and businesses were forced to alter their operations or close.

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Renewable energy is being used across the country and probably across the world
Consumers, businesses, and many more are using this
We are using this to keep our electricity running

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Energy Information Administration - EIA - Official Energy Statistics from the U.S. Government

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2019 and 2024 are probably going to look a lot different than expected.
With this image, we see the comparison of energy mixes of 2019 and 2024.
The percentage change is something that you should be very much aware of.

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Colorado gets 300 days (or more) of sunshine annually. As solar power becomes more and more popular across the country, Colorado was one of the first states to have their own renewable energy standard. Many companies are starting to rely on solar power which was most popular amongst Colorado in 2016. One of those companies was IKEA. Colorado has been using this solar power to help innovate the future and keep us alive and power our houses and businesses because we can't just rely on our phones forever.

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Colorado, with over 300 sunny days per year, has tremendous solar potential and was one of the first states in the U.S. to have a Renewable Energy Standard. There are multiple solar programs in Colorado for rooftop solar, community solar and utility-scale solar. SEIA is engaged in legislative and regulatory discussions to encourage renewable energy growth and deployment.

View more solar industry data.

SEIA Colorado State Policy Priorities

SEIA & COSSA continued to leverage resources to share a lobbyist and regulatory attorney​ to expand solar access and increase solar penetration in Colorado.

SEIA has consistently advocated for solar + storage in Colorado, with testimony in the CO RES plan, stakeholder discussions with Xcel, and with additional Commission filings.

For more information on SEIA's work in Colorado, please contact Sara Birmingham.

Notable Solar Installations in Colorado

Comanche Solar was completed in 2016. This photovoltaic project has the capacity to generate 120 MW of electricity -- enough to power over 24,082 Colorado homes.⁶

Several large retailers in Colorado have gone solar including Albertsons, General Growth Properties and IKEA. IKEA has installed one of the largest such installations with 1 MW of solar capacity at their location in Centennial.⁶

At 50 MW, Hooper Solar Project in San Luis Valley is among the largest solar installations in Colorado. This project has enough electric capacity to power more than 10,034 homes.⁷

Check out our Major Solar Projects List for more notable installations.

Solar Companies in Colorado

Looking for a local installer? Use SolarReviews to get company reviews and estimates for solar in your area. You can also view the average costs for installing solar in Colorado, based on real price data from installed systems and solar quotes.

Don't see your company listed? Complete our National Solar Database Survey!

If you're looking for information about local solar companies, check out EnergySage's list of solar companies in Colorado, where you can check out information about each company and see real customer reviews.

Colorado State Solar Policy Resources
Official SEIA State Affiliate - Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association (COSEIA)
Colorado State Energy Office - Find a wide variety of information on state government energy programs, policy, projects, energy-saving strategies and energy-related statistics

Colorado State Legislature - Track pending legislation affecting solar energy, locate and contact individual legislators, and stay up to date on current legislative issues in Colorado

Colorado Solar Panels Overview - Learn about the history of solar policy in Colorado, along with up-to-date pricing information on EnergySage

Colorado Public Utilities Commisssion - Learn about the governing body that regulates the electricity rates and services of California public utilities

DSIRE Incentives Database - Colorado - Search a public clearinghouse for specific solar energy incentives in Colorado and across the United States

Solar Panel Cost in Colorado - Learn about the history of solar policy in Colorado, along with up-to-date pricing information on EnergySage

Solar Rebates & Incentives in Colorado - Check out EnergySage's list of key solar incentives in Colorado to see what programs you can benefit from

U.S. Energy Information Administration - Colorado State Profile - Explore official energy statistics, including data on electricity supply and demand, from the U.S. government

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Colorado, with over 300 sunny days per year, has tremendous solar potential and was one of the first states in the U.S. to have a Renewable Energy Standard. There are multiple solar programs in Colorado for rooftop solar, community solar and utility-scale solar.

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Colorado is a Renewable Energy Powerhouse

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Colorado is a Renewable Energy Powerhouse

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Colorado has over 3,500 companies and businesses that rely on renewable energy sources.  Plus, Colorado's renewable energy sector is thriving.
Since more businesses and companies in Colorado are starting to rely on renewable energy, less pollution could be emitted.

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Colorado is a Renewable Energy Powerhouse

Colorado's diverse and balanced energy industry is the envy of the nation. Our energy sector supports nearly 264,000 workers, providing an annual economic impact of $17.2 billion. Nearly 4,500 energy companies in oil, coal, gas, wind, solar, energy efficiency, and sustainable technology contribute to our vibrant energy ecosystem.

That ecosystem was built upon decades of innovative entrepreneurs. In 1862, Colorado was the second state to produce oil commercially. Today, we continue that success, ranking seventh in oil production and sixth in natural gas production.

That spirit of innovation is also apparent in Colorado's thriving renewable energy sector. Key to this innovation is the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the nation's crown jewel of renewable energy R&D, which has developed countless technologies and advancements, leading to rapidly declining costs for renewables.

Colorado ranks fourth nationally in cleantech employment, with nearly 2,100 companies. We are the top wind-manufacturing state, with global supply chain companies like turbine manufacturer, Vestas, and steel producer, O'Neal Steel. We are blessed with excellent wind resources; Colorado utilities continue their adoption of wind power, now generating 14.2 percent of the state's electricity. And according to the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, a single 2011 wind power purchase by Xcel Energy "will save ratepayers $100 million."

Colorado's solar industry is equally booming. According to the Solar Energy Industry Association, 96 megawatts (MW) were installed in Colorado in the last quarter of 2015, a 370 percent increase over the same quarter in 2014.

Solar costs fell 78 percent since 2009, and corporations are taking advantage. Several retailers in Colorado are making solar investments, including Kohl's, REI, Safeway, and Walmart. Intel installed nearly 1,000 kilowatts of solar at its Fort Collins campus, one of the largest corporate systems in the state.

The momentum continues with Xcel Energy's recent request to build, own, and operate a $1 billion, 600-MW wind farm using Vestas turbines built at local facilities. The project will power 180,000 homes, create 7,000 Colorado jobs over 25 years, and save ratepayers $400 million. Vestas also received one of the largest proposed orders ever from Iowa to build a 2,000 MW wind farm, which if approved, will utilize 1,000 Colorado-built turbines.

With significant renewable energy manufacturing and development taking place in our own backyard, companies are creating local jobs that can't be outsourced. In a relatively short timeframe, Colorado's cleantech employment exceeded 25,000 positions, with 21,500 direct jobs in Metro Denver alone.

The Denver Metro Chamber and its affiliate, the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation (Metro Denver EDC), welcome these achievements. Growing private investment, manufacturing, project development, and job creation make Colorado a renewable energy powerhouse, adding an important layer to our diverse energy economy.

To maintain this innovative culture, we must preserve our energy ecosystem. Colorado's success is due to healthy competition among energy resources and technologies. That competitive, balanced energy economy has been under attack the past few years. While activist efforts via initiatives 75 and 78 failed to qualify for the 2016 ballot, we must stay vigilant against future attempts ban our oil and gas industry.

Colorado's energy economy is based on quality education, sound R&D, efficient suppliers, investors, access to capital, innovation, and a highly skilled workforce. A clustering of talent, tools, and resources that took decades to build, forms a thriving and competitive environment, and enables new energy subsectors to grow. In order to maintain our lead, we must improve processes and push innovation. Efforts to ban industries from the pool of competition stifle progress and weaken Colorado's energy ecosystem.

The Denver Metro Chamber and the Metro Denver EDC are proud of our state's energy heritage, our balanced energy portfolio, and we look forward to the decades of progress, innovation, and entrepreneurship to come.

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Colorado is a Renewable Energy Powerhouse | Metro Denver

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Colorado's diverse and balanced energy industry is the envy of the nation. Our energy sector supports nearly 264,000 workers, providing an annual economic impact of $17.2 billion. Nearly 4,500 energy companies in oil, coal, gas, wind, solar, energy efficiency, and sustainable technology contribute...