Skip to main content

New Report Shows Residential Solar in Colorado Up 30%

Monday, Dec 15 2014

Share
Press Release

Demonstrating continued support for clean, renewable energy, residential solar installations in Colorado in Q3 were up more than 30 percent over the same period last year, according to the new quarterly report from GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).

The Solar Market Insight Report found that as of Q3 2014 more than 20,000 Colorado homes have “gone solar,” along with more than 1,500 Colorado businesses.

“Time and time again, Coloradans have demonstrated their commitment to clean, renewable solar energy and exercised their right to choose their energy source,” said Rhone Resch, president and CEO of SEIA. “In the past year, the cost of solar in Colorado has fallen 17 percent – largely due to smart and effective public policies, such as the solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), Net Energy Metering (NEM) and Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS).”

In 2013, $233 million was invested in Colorado to install solar on homes and businesses, and there are more than 327 solar companies at work throughout the value chain in the state, employing 3,600 Coloradoans. The 376 MW of solar energy currently installed in Colorado ranks the state 8th in the country in installed solar capacity. There is enough solar energy installed in the state to power 68,600 homes.

Nationwide, the solar industry employs 143,000 Americans and pumps nearly billion a year into the U.S. economy. But solar also benefits the environment.

“The 17,500 megawatts of solar energy currently installed across the United States can generate enough pollution-free electricity to displace 20 billion pounds of coal or 2.2 billion gallons of gasoline,” Resch added. “That’s the equivalent of removing 4.3 million passenger cars from our roads and highways. Every 3 minutes of every single day, the U.S. solar industry is helping to fight the battle against damaging carbon emissions by flipping the switch on another completed solar project.”

About SEIA:

Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2014, the Solar Energy Industries Association® is the national trade association of the U.S. solar energy industry. Through advocacy and education, SEIA® is building a strong solar industry to power America. As the voice of the industry, SEIA works with its 1,000 member companies to champion the use of clean, affordable solar in America by expanding markets, removing market barriers, strengthening the industry and educating the public on the benefits of solar energy. Visit SEIA online at www.seia.org

Media Contacts:

Ken Johnson, SEIA Vice President of Communications, [email protected] (202) 556-2885
Samantha Page, SEIA Press Officer and Communications Manager, [email protected] (202) 556-2886

Related News

Thursday, Mar 07, 2024

Leading the Charge: The Top 5 Solar States of 2023

Solar is coming off a landmark, record-shattering year in 2023. To celebrate this momentous year, SEIA is counting down the top five solar states of 2023 — all of which are positioning themselves as national leaders in America’s energy economy.

Read More
Friday, May 21, 2021

Colorado Makes it Easier to Connect Solar + Storage Projects to the Grid

DENVER and WASHINGTON, D.C. — Decisions by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission earlier this week will make it faster and easier to connect solar + storage systems to the grid. The decisions primarily adopt recommendations by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and the Colorado Solar and Storage Association (COSSA).

Read More
Thursday, Mar 22, 2018

Solar Industry Commends Colorado for Enacting Pioneering Energy Storage Legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C.  - Today, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and the Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association (COSEIA) jointly commended Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper for signing into law energy storage legislation that will help the state’s solar market and jobs grow.

Read More