Community Solar Gardens
Colorado Springs Utilities customers can now invest in a community solar garden and benefit from the renewable energy produced there. The program gives subscribing customers a one-time incentive at installation and a credit on their monthly electric bill for their share of the power generated. Learn more.
Renewable Energy
We support the use of renewable energy to reduce the demand of fossil fuels for energy production. The use of renewable energy conserves the world’s limited resources and reduces the release of atmospheric pollution associated with fossil fuel combustion.
Renewable energy can take many forms, including
- wind,
- solar (photovoltaic),
- biomass (landfill gas, forest thinning, animal waste),
- hydropower (water) and
- geothermal power.
About 9 percent of our community's energy supply comes from renewables – specifically hydroelectric and wind power.
Current renewable projects
- Hydro: In 2010 our fourth hydroelectric power plant began providing power to our community. The new plant brings our total local hydroelectric capacity to 35 megawatts, enough electricity to power more than 20,000 homes. We also receive a significant amount of hydro power from the Western Area Power Authority.
- Biomass: We are working on a woody biomass project to generate electricity for our community. We will burn pine beetle-kill trees, forest thinnings and other wood products in our existing boilers in a sustainable manner, reducing the amount of coal used at our power plants.
- Wind: We are now reviewing bids to receive an additional 50 megawatts of wind power as part of the 2011 Electric Integrated Resource Plan (EIRP) process.
- Solar: Working with the U.S. Air Force and SunPower, we completed construction in 2011 on a 6-megawatt solar array at the Academy. We provided more than $2 million in solar power rebates in 2011 to help bring more rooftop and Community Solar Garden projects to reality. We have budgeted a similar amount for 2012.