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Fort Collins Utilities Partners with Local Businesses to Double Local Solar Capacity

Posted on: Oct-21-2015

Solar capacity in Fort Collins recently doubled through a partnership between Fort Collins Utilities' Solar Power Purchase Program (SP3) and local businesses. These projects include rooftop, parking structure and ground-mounted systems.

Approved by City Council in 2013, the objective of the SP3 was to increase locally installed solar capacity. All said and done, slightly less than 4 megawatts, or approximately 3,700 kilowatts (kW), of solar generation was achieved.

Utilities' SP3, in cooperation with Platte River Power Authority, is unique in that the energy output of the solar systems, installed on local commercial customers' buildings, goes directly to the electric grid 'in front of the billing meter' and customers are paid based on a 20-year agreement.

Thanks to the following participants, as well as their owners and developers, for their contributions to the success of this program:

Host Site, Owner, Developer, Size (kW)
Scotch Pines Village, Scotch Pines Village, Bella Energy, 96
RCD Plaza, RCD Plaza, Namaste Solar, 80
Intel Carport, Intel, Solar City, 997
MotherLove Herbals, MotherLove Herbals, Bella Energy, 70
CSU Braiden Hall, Solaris Energy, Namaste Solar, 99
New Belgium Brewery, New Belgium Brewery, Namaste Solar, 99
Woodward, Woodward, Inc., Douglas Colony, 125
CSU Student Rec Center, Solaris Energy, Namaste Solar, 544
CSU Parmelee Hall, Solaris Energy, Namaste Solar, 139
CSU Vet Teaching Hospital, Solaris Energy, Namaste Solar, 229
CSU Edwards Hall, Solaris Energy, Namaste Solar, 92
FCHA Redtail Ponds, FCHA, Bella Energy, 59
CSU Concert Hall ("UCA"), Solaris Energy, Namaste Solar, 99
Private Land Owner, SolSystems & Washington Gas, Bella Energy & Oak Leaf Energy, 971

Intel's participation alone equates to roughly 25 percent of the program's goal to add new local solar. "These projects really do move the needle," said Energy Services Engineer and Project Manager, Norm Weaver. "At this time, Intel contributes approximately 2 percent, and overall, the SP3 program will contribute 8 percent toward meeting Fort Collins' 2020 carbon reduction renewables goal."

Feedback from participants, includes:

Namaste: "The SP3 program was a great success and everyone at the City of Fort Collins went out of their way to help us maximize the benefits of the program for our clients," said Heath Mackay, Senior Business Development Manager for Namaste Solar. "This feed-in tariff program provided our investment partners with a predictable revenue stream that was critical to the financial viability of the projects we developed for Colorado State University."

Woodward: "Woodward focuses on making the world a better place by reducing emissions and increasing energy efficiency in the markets we serve," said Jennifer Ray, Woodward Program Manager - Lincoln Campus. "One of the major factors that lead us toward solar utilization on the new campus was to reduce energy costs and affirm our commitment to alternative energy sources to support energy programs in the City of Fort Collins."

Solaris Energy/Colorado State University properties: "It's been great working with the City of Fort Collins and Colorado State University to build 1.2 megawatts of solar arrays on six different sites across campus," said Alex Blackmer, Manager, Solaris Energy and Executive Director of the Atmosphere Conservancy. "The SP3 program is a good first step toward achieving the much greater goals embodied in the City's Climate Action Plan. Let's keep up the momentum!"

The SP3 projects support local energy investments and contribute toward Utilities' renewable and greenhouse gas reduction requirements in the Colorado Renewable Energy Standard and Fort Collins' Energy Policy. They also provide new, locally produced renewable energy, a component that supports the community's Climate Action Plan goals and future implementation strategies. In 2015, with all new projects combined, the solar capacity connected to the Fort Collins electric grid increased by 163 percent to 6.9 megawatts.

This type of power purchase program provides an option for businesses to build, support and add renewable energy to their facilities, while increasing solar generation for Fort Collins Utilities. This structure, commonly known within the solar industry as a feed-in-tariff (FIT) model, is the first of its kind in Colorado and one of only a handful in the country.

Fort Collins Utilities will continue to develop plans for future solar and local renewable programs. For more information, email nweaver@fcgov.com, call 970-416-2312 or TDD 970-224-6003. Additional information on solar options can be viewed at https://www.fcgov.com/solar .


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