Clean Energy Economy News | Online edition
June 15, 2009 | Vol. 2, No. 6
Greetings,
The summer solstice is just a few days away, and the news this month is mostly about solar energy. This edition’s solar roundup includes news on overwhelmingly popular rebate programs, large-scale solar projects in the works, and Rifle’s leadership in changing state rules governing net metering. This edition also includes updates on RFTA’s summer bus service and a brief on the annual Colorado Conservation Voters legislative scorecard.
An important workshop this Friday leads the pack of upcoming clean energy events. Growing Cooler features a national expert on transportation and land use and will connect the dots between energy security, climate change, community design and transportation. We encourage you to attend.
Scroll down for information on an Energy Star New Homes training course starting tomorrow in Rifle, and workshops coming up on the International Energy Conservation Code 2009. All are free.
As always, this issue and all 2008 and 2009 back issues are available for your reading pleasure on the CLEER website, www.CleanEnergyEconomy.net.
Heather McGregor, Editor
Clean Energy Economy News
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In this issue
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SOLAR ENERGY ROUNDUP
Glenwood Springs solar rebates pilot program
doubles city’s PV capacity
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| Sandy Lowell, left, explains the functions of his new solar PV system installed through the Glenwood Springs solar rebates program. Listening are, from left, Glenwood Springs Mayor Bruce Christensen, Garfield County Enevironmental Health Director Jim Rada, City Councilman Russ Arensman, Jennifer Lowell, and Heather McGregor. |
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Dan Richardson, second from left, talks about the value of his employer, SGM, installing a solar PV system as part of the Glenwood Springs pilot program. SGM principal Dean Gordon, left, Colorado Solar representative Kim Goossens-Randell, and John Evans of Alpine Bank listen.
Photos by Ed Kosmicki |
The Glenwood Springs solar rebates pilot program wrapped up on June 9 with a press conference at the home of Sandy and Jennifer Lowell, one of eight recipients of $3 per watt rebates financed by the Governor’s Energy Office and the City of Glenwood Springs.
The program’s $90,000 in rebates yielded 32 kW of installed PV capacity for the Glenwood Springs Electric Department, more than double the previous total of 21.5 kW. The eight rebate recipients spent a total of $242,000 on their systems, giving a jump-start to the usually slow springtime demand for PV installations.
The rebates were split between commercial and residential systems, and the five residential recipients also had to get a home energy audit to qualify for the solar rebate.
“This has been a very rewarding experience on many levels,” said rebate recipient Bob Sommerfeld. “It has caused us to evaluate every aspect of our energy consumption and consider how we can improve.”
The GEO funds for solar rebates were the result of a grant written by CLEER; Garfield New Energy Communities Initiative staff managed the program and Garfield County served as the program’s fiscal agent.
In the news
Glenwood Springs Post Independent, June 10, 2009
Glenwood Springs couple takes a shine to solar power
By John Colson
Smarter Building Blog, June 9, 2009
Glenwood Springs Solar Rebates Program Proved to be a Success
By Jonathan Georger
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Demand for solar PV overtops rebate funding
Holy Cross Energy and CORE rebates for 2009 run out in five months
Unprecedented demand for solar photovoltaic rebates in the Roaring Fork Valley tapped nearly $1.3 million in Holy Cross Energy and CORE rebate funds by May.
 CORE, the Community Office for Resource Efficiency, used up the $200,000 it budgeted for the year’s solar PV rebates by April 24, but moved additional funding into the program to cover rebates through May 31. Holy Cross Energy was down to the last $24,000 in its nearly $1.1 million renewable energy generation fund on May 19, and that was scooped up by installers before the day ended.
 “We were astounded by the fact that nearly $1.1 million went so fast,” said Steve Casey, member services and marketing administrator for Holy Cross Energy. The electric co-op had never fully depleted its annual allocation before, and had budgeted twice as much for 2009 as it paid out in 2008.
How does a solar rebate affect payback?
Rebates for solar PV systems are discussed in terms of dollars per watt of installed capacity. However, solar systems are roughly sized in increments of 1,000 watts, which are also called kilowatts (kW). A common size for a household solar PV system is 3 kW, with a typical installation cost of $24,000. This table compares the payback period for different rebate amounts.
| Rebate rate |
$2 / watt |
$3 / watt |
$4 / watt |
| Typical cost 3 kW system |
$24,000 |
$24,000 |
$24,000 |
| Rebate amount |
$6,000 |
$9,000 |
$12,000 |
30% federal
tax credit |
$7,200 |
$7,200 |
$7,200 |
| Out of pocket cost |
$12,800 |
$9,800 |
$6,800 |
| Est. annual power production |
5,475 kW hours |
5,475 kW hours |
5,475 kW hours |
| Annual utility bill savings |
$438* |
$438* |
$438* |
| Payback period |
29 years |
22 years |
15 years |
|
The driving factor behind the rebate depletions is the new federal tax credit for solar PV and other renewable energy systems. Prior to this year, property owners could take a tax credit of 30 percent of the installed cost of their system — but the credit was capped at $2,000. Starting in 2009, the credit is available for 30 percent of installed costs, with no upper limit. When combined with utility rebates, the payback on solar PV systems is suddenly a lot shorter. “The federal tax credit made it more favorable for the consumer,” Casey said.
For the remainder of the year, CORE has told solar installers that it will provide a more modest solar PV rebate for residents of the Roaring Fork Valley. CORE will pay a flat $1,500 rebate for any grid-tied system larger than 2 kW, and $1,000 for any off-the-grid system larger than 2 kW. CORE is also now requiring rebate beneficiaries to get an energy audit to promote energy efficiency and proper sizing of solar PV systems.
CORE’s funding for solar rebates and other programs comes from the Aspen and Pitkin County Renewable Energy Mitigation Program (REMP), which assesses fees on construction projects that exceed an energy usage formula. REMP revenues “are down significantly this year,” reported CORE staffer Nathan Ratledge, making its future role in the rebate marketplace uncertain.
Casey said Holy Cross officials plan to look at trends in the marketplace and decide the best approach to renewable energy rebates for 2010. Casey noted, for example, that Xcel Energy lowered its rebate package for solar PV by $1 a watt, from $4.50 a watt down to $3.50 a watt, noting that the rebate cut would be offset by the unlimited federal tax credit.
In the news
Aspen Times, June 5, 2009
Surge in solar projects shines light on problem
Funds for solar rebates already gone just five months into the year
By Scott Condon
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New rebate program for Aspen Electric customers
Starting June 1, Aspen Municipal Electric debuted its new solar rebate program. Aspen Electric is offering a $3 per watt rebate on installations up to 3 kW, a rebate of up to $9,000, for customers in their service territory. At present, the city has budgeted $36,000 in anticipation of issuing rebates this year for four systems, said Jeff Rice, utilities energy efficiency manager for the City of Aspen.
The rebates are being funded from a water department rate increase approved in 2006. To simplify the application process, CORE is handling the rebate program for the city utility.
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Eagle County’s Eco-Build Fund revenues remain strong
Eagle County’s solar rebate program is in its second year, and Eagle County environmental policy planner Adam Palmer said both revenues and demand for the rebates are remaining strong this year.
The Eco-Build Fund, launched in April 2008, offers a rebate of $2 per watt for residential installations up to 2 kW, for a maximum rebate of $4,000. Residents of deed-restricted affordable housing can claim a $3 a watt rebate on up to 2 kW, worth up to $6,000. ECO-Build also offers a rebate for solar hot water systems that will cover 50 percent of the installed cost up to $4,000.
“Last year we spent $120,000 on rebates,” said Palmer. “This year we budgeted $100,000, and we have already spent $75,000. We have additional funds we can put into this program, so we are not expecting a shortage. We will be able to offer this rebate through the year.”
Renewable energy projects for commercial buildings are also eligible for rebates under the community grant program. Rebates have been averaging about $1 a watt.
Eco-Build Fund revenues come from building permit fees assessed for exterior energy consumption, such as a snowmelt driveway. In contrast to Pitkin County dwindling revenues, Eco-Build revenues are strong, racking up $160,000 to date, and coming in earlier than usual, Palmer said.
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Solar projects in the works for New Castle,
G-NECI partners, Eagle County
The Town of New Castle drew six prospective bidders to a pre-bid project review meeting on June 5 for a 44 kW array to be installed at the town’s new public works facility. Bids for the facility are due June 30, and the contract is slated for award on July 21. The engineering firm Schmueser Gordon Meyer is managing the project.
New Castle will be using its share of funding allocated for renewable energy installations from the Garfield New Energy Communities Initiative (NECI) grant to help pay for the installation. The town may also pursue a power purchase agreement to round out the financing needed.
On June 8, Garfield NECI issued a request for informal competitive bids for a renewable energy inventory and financial evaluation. The inventory is the first step in a two-part approach to planning for and installing renewable energy systems on sites owned by the G-NECI local government partners. The first step is intended to identify prime sites for renewable energy systems, develop cost estimates and propose financing options that can leverage the NECI grant funding.
Of the $1.6 million grant awarded to Garfield NECI by the Colorado Department of Local Affairs, $700,000 is budgeted to pay for renewable energy installations at sites owned by eight of the nine local government partners. The funding is to be divided evenly so each partner will receive $87,500. New Castle is using its share for a 44 kW solar array on its public works facilities. Other local government partners may pursue an independent project like New Castle or participate in the joint inventory.
Eagle County is planning to install 1 megawatt of solar PV on a covered parking structure at the county airport, 4 megawatts at the county landfill in Wolcott, and smaller-scale systems on the Old Courthouse building, Miller Ranch Community Center and the El Jebel campus. The county is also planning a combined solar PV and solar hot water system at the Eagle County Justice Center, according to Eagle County environmental policy planner Adam Palmer.
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Recommendation to PUC on net metering favors Rifle
Mike Braaten’s trip to Denver in January to testify before the Colorado Public Utilities Commission appears to have paid off.
Administrative Law Judge Ken Kirkpatrick has issued a formal recommendation to the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to lift the 2-megawatt cap on net metering for renewable energy systems installed by utility customers.
If the judge’s recommendation is upheld by the PUC, the City of Rifle could expand the 1.7-megawatt solar array installed last year at its wastewater treatment plant to the 4-megawatt size needed to cover the plant’s electric demand. That’s exactly what Braaten, the city’s governmental affairs and energy coordinator, was seeking.
“The process is not done yet. Now the PUC has to act on the judge’s recommendation,” Braaten said last week in a presentation to the Garfield New Energy Communities Initiative Advisory Board. “For the most part, it looks like the 2-megawatt limit will be lifted. That’s good for anyone who wants to go with large solar in the future.”
The judge’s recommendation is part of a larger PUC case to review rules governing the state’s Renewable Energy Standard, created when Colorado voters passed Amendment 37 in 2004.
The net metering rule requires utilities to give customers credit for the power their renewable energy systems generate, and charge them only if they consume more power than their system produces.
Typically, customers with renewable energy systems, such as solar PV panels, wind turbines or micro-hydro systems, have two-way net meters that spin backward when their system is generating electricity and spin forward when generation drops below their consumption level.
The original net metering rule put a flat 2 megawatt cap on the size of renewable energy systems customers could install, regardless of the amount of electricity consumed at that meter. For most customers, 2 megawatts is an astronomical limit far beyond their electrical needs. But for a wastewater treatment plant serving more than 7,000 residents and two large commercial districts, 2 megawatts would offset just half the plant’s electrical demand.
From the day he was hired, Braaten was asked to “figure out the 2-megawatt limit.”
“We were told that if we ever wanted to expand the limit, we would have to change state law. Then, surprisingly, last year the PUC reopened the renewal process for the Renewable Energy Standard,” Braaten said. That gave the city of Rifle and others bumping up against the 2-megawatt limit, such as Denver International Airport and the City of Boulder, a chance to submit comments and testify about the net metering rule.
“We asked the PUC to either provide an exemption for municipalities, or to base the system size limit on the customer’s actual load,” Braaten said.
Xcel Energy argued against the change, noting that larger systems would increase the difficulty of ramping production at conventional power plants up or down to compensate for fluctuations in power production for solar and wind facilities.
Judge Kirkpatrick noted that Xcel raised a legitimate issue, but said this is an engineering and operations problem that should be dealt with separately. The net metering cap, he wrote, is “primarily an economic issue.”
After mulling over the testimony and written comments, Judge Kirkpatrick rejected the municipal exemption request. He simply recommended that all customers be allowed to install systems capable of generating up to 120 percent of their annual electrical consumption. His recommended rule change and the rationale behind it is explained in three pages of a 124-page document.
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RFTA initiates service changes for summer 2009
Summer service for bus transit provided by the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority started June 7. Changes include:
- RFTA valley routes and Snowmass Village connectors in service every 30 minutes
Woody Creek shuttle in service
- Music School service starts June 16
- Aspen Music Tent served before and after performances
- Free Aspen Cross Town and Galena Street shuttles back in service, with late-night service
- Maroon Bells bus tours start Saturday, June 20 with special $3 fare on Wednesdays all summer long
- All bus service between Aspen and Snowmass Village is free
RFTA has eliminated these services for summer 2009:
- Bike Bus Express
- ZipLine
- Maroon Creek Road / Highlands Direct route -- service along Maroon Creek Road still available every 20 minutes on the Castle-Maroon route
For information on bus schedules or routes, call 925-8484 or visit www.rfta.com
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Colorado Conservation Voters
scores state legislators on 2009 session votes
 Colorado Conservation Voters has released its 2009 Legislative Conservation Scorecard, which rates legislators based on their votes on 12 conservation-related bills. This year’s scorecard bills included five bills related to energy efficient transportation and four bills related to energy efficiency or renewable energy.
Rating for legislators serving Pitkin, Eagle and Garfield counties were:
- District 16, Sen. Dan Gibbs, D-Silverthorne, 100%
- District 5, Sen. Gail Schwartz, D-Snowmass Village, 100%
- District 8, Sen. Al White, R-Hayden, 46%
- District 57, Rep. Randy Baumgardner, R-Hot Sulphur Springs, 31%
- District 61, Rep. Kathleen Curry, D-Gunnison, 92%
- District 56, Rep. Christine Scanlan, D-Dillon, 100%
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TRAININGS
Energy Star training offered on new
Habitat for Humanity homes in Rifle
Date: Tuesday, June 16
Time: 3 to 6 p.m.
Place: Rifle City Hall, 202 Railroad Ave.
FREE
Registration: contact Nathan Lindquist at nlindquist@rifleco.org or (970) 625-6248
Builders, building subcontractors and residents interested in energy efficiency are invited to attend a series of real world training sessions as Savage Land Co. builds three Habitat for Humanity homes in Rifle that will qualify for an Energy Star rating.
The June 16 training will focus on design considerations, cost estimating and RemRate energy modeling using the ENERGY STAR process. Future trainings will cover framing, insulation, thermal bypass measures, diagnostic testing and energy efficient building codes. The training series will be taught by Fritz Diether, a certified Home Energy Rating System consultant and owner of the Grand Junction-based company Frostbusters & Coolth.
Sponsored by Habitat for Humanity, the City of Rifle, Mountain to Mesa Homebuilders Association and the Garfield New Energy Communities Initiative.
In the news
Rifle Citizen-Telegram, June 4, 2009
Help Rifle grow more efficient
By Nathan Lindquist
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Free one-day workshops on IECC 2009
 The Governor’s Energy Office and the International Code Council are hosting a series of 21 free workshops across the state on the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC).
The International Code Council (ICC), a nationally recognized code training organization, will present information on the 2009 code to local building code officials, home builders, developers, architects, engineers and other building industry professionals. These one-day trainings will focus on commercial and residential building components of the 2009 IECC, and compare it to earlier versions.
The workshops will highlight elements of the code that are relevant for building in Colorado, including building envelopes, high-elevation R-values, proper sizing of HVAC systems and efficient lighting and controls.
These trainings are approved by the International Code Council for 0.6 continuing education units and by the American Institute of Architects for six contact hours.
Everyone who attends will receive an official code book, work book resources and continuing technical assistance from ICC.
Workshops will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Trainings in our region are set for:
Glenwood Springs: Monday, July 13
Craig: Tuesday, July 14
Winter Park: Wednesday, July 15
Grand Junction: Monday, July 20
Montrose: Tuesday, July 21
Georgetown: Monday, July 27
Workshop resources online at the Governor’s Energy Office website, including background information on the IECC 2003 and 2006 codes and links to U.S. Department of Energy’s code compliance software.
Seating will be limited, so please register in advance. Click here to register.
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Building Performance Institute certification course
Garfield NECI offering two $400 scholarships
Date: Monday, July 13 through Saturday, July 18
Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Place: Colorado Mountain College Aspen campus
Fee: $1,100, plus $130 exam proctor fee
This training provides a full 36-hour preparation for individuals seeking Building Performance Institute (BPI) certification, and assumes no prior building science or energy auditor training. The course prepares students to take the Building Performance Institute certification exam. Students will take the exam at the end of the course.
Early registration is recommended. Click here for an informational flyer, or contact Rick Johnson, instructional chair for CMC’s Aspen campus, at (970) 925-7740, ex. 2417 or wjohnson@coloradomtn.edu.
Garfield New Energy Communities Initiative is offering two $400 scholarships for students attending the class. Scholarships are available on a first come basis. To apply, contact Lauren Martindale, lmartindale@CleanEnergyEconomy.net or 704-9200 x 1.
In September, the CMC Green Building Academy will begin offering the Green Building Professionals certification courses of the National Home Builders Association. Other courses in the BPI series will be offered in coming months both at CMC-Aspen and the CMC-West Garfield campus in Rifle.
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EVENTS
Silt Cool Cities group
Date: Tuesday, June 16
Time: 7 p.m.
The Silt Cool Cities group will meet to plan its presentation to the Silt Board of Trustees. For information, contact Dan Becker at 876-5916 or dbecker@willowwisp.net.
Growing Cooler: Energy-Efficient Land Use
and Transportation Planning workshop
Date: Friday, June 19
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Place: Hotel Colorado, Glenwood Springs
Fee: $20 covers lunch, morning refreshments and workshop materials
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Reid Ewing |
Registration: RSVP by Wednesday, June 17, online at www.CleanEnergyEconomy.net, by e-mail to Tracey Walter at twalter@CleanEnergyEconomy.net or call (970) 704-9200 x 3.
This workshop is the first in a series aimed at giving community leaders the tools to encourage energy efficient community design and expand clean energy transportation options. Featured speaker Reid Ewing will connect the dots between energy security, climate change, community design and transportation.
Ewing is a professor of city and metropolitan planning at the University of Utah and a co-author of “Growing Cooler: The Evidence on Urban Development and Climate Change,” recently published by the Urban Land Institute. His work has also focused on transit-oriented design, LEED green guidelines for neighborhood development, and traffic calming.
The workshop is the first in a series organized by the Garfield New Energy Communities Initiative, CLEER and the Sonoran Institute.
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Eagle Valley Alliance for Sustainability
Healthy Homes Fair & Tour
Date: Saturday, June 20
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Place: Nottingham Park, Avon
FREE
More info: www.eaglevalleyalliance.org or (970) 827-9999.
 Green living is not just about our living spaces, but also our living choices -- from the food we eat to the clothes we wear; from the cars we drive to the way we dispose of trash; from the materials we build with to the way we clean – “green” is everywhere. The Healthy Homes Fair showcases the ideas, products and services shaping this green revolution, and the Healthy Homes Home Tour shows them in action. Attend the Fair & Tour to get a hands-on experience of green solutions through demonstrations, displays and actual home applications.
Extra credit: Music by the Bonfire Dub Trio, beer tent, and the Build a Better Birdhouse competition.
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Bike to Work Day rolls on June 24
Wednesday, June 24, is Bike to Work Day. Everyone is encouraged to ride a bike or walk to work that day – it’s good for your health and for the environment.
Everyone who bikes or walks to work is invited to stop by any of three breakfast stands for free food and goodies. Stands will be open from 7 to 10 a.m. at:
Rifle City Hall, 202 Railroad Ave.
New Castle Burning Mountain Park on Main Street
Glenwood Springs Centennial Park at 9th and Grand
Bike to Work Day is sponsored by the City of Rifle, Town of New Castle, City of Glenwood Springs, Town of Carbondale, Colorado Department of Transportation, Garfield New Energy Communities Initiative, Clean Energy Economy for the Region, Roaring Fork Transportation Authority and the Lower Valley Trailway.
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The Economic Impact of Community workshop
Date: Thursday, June 25
Time: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Place: Glenwood Springs Community Center, 100 Wulfsohn Rd.
FREE
Registration: www.hmcnews.org or call (970) 963-5502 by Tuesday, June 23
Using more than 1,000 responses to the 2008 Garfield County Community Survey as a case study, this workshop presents the surprising links between our sense of community and our shopping decisions. Explore how retail and community are linked in important ways that reinforce our social and economic fabric.
Presenters include:
- Linda Venturoni,
president, Venturoni Surveys & Research, Inc.
- Mary Gessner,
statistician, Venturoni Surveys & Research, Inc.
- Stephan Weiler,
economics professor, Colorado State University
- Jim Weskott,
state demographer, Colorado Department of Local Affairs
Sponsored by Healthy Mountain Communities, the Affordable Communities Initiative, and the Department of Local Affairs Office of Smart Growth.
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6th annual American Renewable Energy Day
 Date: Thursday, Aug. 20 through Saturday, Aug. 22
Time: events throughout the day and evening
Place: Doerr-Hosier Building, Aspen Meadows, Aspen
Fee: register before July 16, $349; after July 16, $399
Registration: www.areday.net
AREDAY’s 2009 theme is “The Problem IS the Solution: Wall Street Meets Green Street - Creating the New Energy Economy.”
Presenters include:
- Lester Brown, President of Earth Policy Institute
- Peter Buffett, Founder of NoVo Foundation
- Larry Schweiger, CEO of National Wildlife Federation
- Amory Lovins, Chief Scientist of Rocky Mountain Institute
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Clean Energy Bits ‘n Bobs
Dan Becker of Silt is a new addition to the staff of Frostbusters & Coolth, an energy rating, audit and weatherization company based in Grand Junction. Becker brings 30 years of experience in the building trades, along with LEED accreditation and a Built Green Colorado certificate, to serve the Garfield County and Meeker area. Contact him at (970) 876-5916 or by e-mail at dbecker@willowwisp.net.
The City of Aspen has adopted the state government’s “Cool Biz” program to save summer energy use in city buildings by raising thermostats. Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper launched Cool Biz last summer, and Gov. Bill Ritter endorsed the idea for state office buildings. In Aspen, thermostats in 12 city buildings will be set at 76 degrees rather than 72, saving on cooling costs.
Carbondale rancher Tom Turnbull, Eagle County planner Adam Palmer, and Woody Creek resident Hal Clark were elected to three-year terms on the Holy Cross Energy board of directors in the annual election held last week. Turnbull, the incumbent and president of the Holy Cross board, defeated challenger Marshall Foote, while Palmer ousted incumbent George Lamb. Clark ran unopposed. Their new terms start on June 17.
Aspen Times, June 11, 2009, by Scott Condon
Carbondale rancher keeps seat on Holy Cross board
Three Denver-based staffers from the Governor’ Energy Office visited the West Slope last week, dropping by the Garfield New Energy Communities Initiative Advisory Board meeting on June 10. Public outreach manager Jennifer Hampton, communications associate Brittany Purdum and community network coordinator Stacey Proctor briefed the board on GEO’s plans for using some federal stimulus money for a revamped and stepped-up outreach program. Their plans include a new website and a call center to serve residents statewide.
The Colorado County Treasurer and Public Trustee Associations will hold their annual meetings next week in Carbondale, with Garfield County Treasurer Georgia Chamberlain serving as the host. Angie Fyfe, local programs manager for the Governor’s Energy Office, will present to the group on energy efficiency measures for government offices.
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