Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Rebates and Incentives
In 2008 HCCC partnered
with the Governor's
Energy Office (GEO) to offer rebates directly to qualifying
homeowners for the installation of either attic or exterior
wall insulation and basic recommended air sealing measures
through the Insulate Colorado Program. Properly insulating
your home will help reduce heating costs and make a home
more comfortable. Participating local governments (Town
of Frisco, Town of Breckenridge and unincorporated Summit
County) are offering a 20% contractor job cost rebate, or
$300 maximum per home, whichever amount is less.
Rebates will be awarded on a first-come,
first-served basis until the program funding is exhausted.
Interested homeowners should contact Jon Kinstad, HC3's
Energy Programs Manager for more information - jon@highcountryconservation.org
or 970-485-3509.
For residents with
Xcel Energy gas service use the Xcel
Insulate Colorado Application.
For more information about Xcel Energy's
Insulate Colorado Rebate program contact Customer Service
at 800-895-4999 or inquire@xcelenergy.com.
For residents without
Xcel Energy gas use GEO's
2008 Insulate Colorado Homeowner Rebate Request Form.!
Xcel
Energy Appliance Rebates
Solar
Thermal Rebate Program - The Solar Thermal Rebate
Program has expired but stay tuned, this rebate will likely
be renewed by the GEO. The Solar Thermal Rebate Program
is perhaps one of the most cost effective ways to incorporate
renewable energy into a home or business. In the average
Colorado home, up to 15% of the annual energy consumed is
used for domestic water heating. By using solar energy to
heat domestic water, homeowners and businesses can significantly
reduce their water heating costs while also mitigating the
consumption of fossil fuels.
Xcel Energy's
Solar*Rewards Program offers a rebate of $3.50
per watt of DC capacity (rebate of $2 per watt and Renewable
Energy Credit of $1.50 per watt) on systems smaller than
10.0kW.
Federal Investment Tax Credit allows
an individual or business to claim tax credits on 30% of
spending in qualified solar property after rebates. There
is no cap (formerly $2,000) and it is effective for property
placed in service beginning January 1, 2009.
If your municipality doesn't offer any of these rebates,
please contact your elected officials to ask for their participation.
Two major pieces of legislation have passed in the past two years that affect Colorado residents positively where energy is concerned. One is the national Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the other is Colorado’s Amendment 37, which is known as the Renewable Energy Requirement to many. We will cover the basics of each here so that you know how each will affect you.
Energy Policy Act of 2005
This Act provides tax incentives and loan guarantees for energy production of various types. There are many provisions included in the Act, just a few of them are:
- Provides a tax credit of up to $3,400 for owners of hybrid vehicles
- Authorizes subsidies for wind energy and other alternative energy producers
- Allocates $50 million annually for a biomass grant program
- Contains several provisions aimed at making geothermal energy more competitive with fossil fuels
- Requires that the Dept of Energy study and report on existing natural energy resources including wind, solar, waves and tides
- Provides tax breaks for those making energy conservation improvements to their homes
All of this means that as a consumer you can receive:
- A credit of up to 30% of the cost (up to $2000) for installing solar-powered hot water systems
- Tax credits up to $500 on the amount they spend to upgrade thermostats, to caulk leaks or to stop energy waste
- Up to $200 credit for installation of new exterior windows
- Up to $300 credit for purchases of a highly efficient central air conditioner, heat pump or water heater
- Up to $150 for installation of a highly efficient furnace or boiler
- Credits for cars and light trucks that are more fuel efficient than 2002 models
To learn more about the Energy Policy Act of 2005 click here.
Amendment 37- Renewable Energy Requirement
The initiative requires Colorado utilities with 40,000 or more customers to generate or purchase a percentage of their electricity from renewable sources. This will be achieved according to the following schedule:
3% from 2007 through 2010
6% from 2011 through 2014 and
10% by 2015 and thereafter.
Furthermore, 4% of the energy from each year must come from solar and half of that must come from solar systems located on-site. Besides solar, other options are wind, geothermal, biomass (through the burning of plants, landfill gas, animal wastes), small hydroelectric and hydrogen fuel cells.
Additionally, each kWh of renewable electricity generated within Colorado will be counted as 1.15 kWh in an effort to encourage that renewable energy be generated within the state.
Included in the initiative is a required rebate program. In other words, utility customers installing solar electric generation equipment on their property may earn a rebate for excess annual use sold to the utility.
To read all the details of the Renewable Energy Requirement in an article by DSIRE (Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy) click here.
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