San Miguel lets their customers take advantage of the sunshine
At electricity co-ops, 300-plus days per year of Colorado sunshine are being put to good use—for local home and business owners. Co-ops continue to provide rebates and other incentives to their customers for utilizing renewable energy sources like sunlight.
To benefit their members and to encourage conservation, San Miguel Power Association and The New Community Coalition partnered with the Colorado Governor’s Energy Office and the Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association to offer area home and business owners the Solar Rebate Program. The program was extended to all areas within the territory of the co-op, including San Miguel, Ouray, western Montrose, and portions of Hinsdale, Dolores and San Juan counties.
A continuation of a previous pilot rebate program, the Solar Rebate Program gave residents and small businesses that installed photovoltaic or solar hot water systems the opportunity to apply for applicable rebates.
“This is a great opportunity for residents and small businesses to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels,” said Kim Wheels, the TNCC energy specialist, about the program.
The Solar Rebate Program was created by the GEO as an incentive for renewable energy installations on homes and businesses throughout the state, helping to harness Colorado’s abundant solar resources. The combination of the GEO rebates and federal tax credits provided Colorado home and business owners saving between 50 to 55 percent on the upfront installation cost and an estimated annual savings of $250-500 in energy costs.
Coupled with government assistance, co-ops like San Miguel Power Association are making renewable energy a practical possibility for their members. “Now, through various state and federal funding availability, it is financially feasible for those who want to reduce their carbon footprint to do so effectively and affordably,” said Wheels.