sunnysidesolarcolorado.com Blog

I have to admit I was a skeptic when Conoco Phillips purchased the old Storage Tech campus and touted renewable energy research as a main component of business at the site. However, now they are using the economy as an excuse to scuttle those plans for renewables. I have to admit it was a good strategy. When people mentioned the Conoco Phillips move to Louisville, they always included the renewable energy boon to the area. It made the move a good sell. Big oil sometimes dredges up thoughts of neighborhood gas refineries similar to the Commerce City site. I hope that Conoco Phillips proves me wrong and gets back to the renewable energy plan.

County Issue 1A was adopted in Boulder County at the polls. This measure is a great opportunity for homeowners who would like to install renewable energy, but do not have the capital reserves. Homeowners will be able to obtain low interest, no-money-down financing for renewable energy, energy efficiency improvements, including solar photovoltaic systems.
The Boulder County Energy Options Local Improvement District (LID) will authorize Boulder County to increase debt by $40 million to be used for energy-efficiency projects. The loans will be repaid by the homeowner through a voluntary special assessment on the property. The plan allows for little up-front costs to the homeowner, and if the property is sold prior to the end of the 20-year repayment period, the new owner takes over repayment as part of the property tax bill.
Many details of the program must be ironed out, and other counties will be monitoring the program closely before adopting similar measures. Let’s hope Boulder County becomes the model to follow.