In the United States, the growth of solar energy has been undeniable over the past decade, but it may not be accelerating for the reasons that you might think.
Yes, solar is both renewable and emission-free, which makes it easy to reduce local greenhouse gases and improve air quality when replacing fossil fuels. However, even though everyone loves doing what they can to save the planet, the growth of solar in Colorado has actually been driven by savings, and not just for environmental reasons.
Recently, renewable energy has been in the national spotlight with the White House’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal powered by the goal of 100% clean electricity by 2035. Locally, analysts have found that Colorado is actually ahead of schedule for wind and solar development, thanks to the low cost of building and maintaining renewable energy systems in the state.
As a “rising tide lifts all boats,” the push for renewable energy and its economic benefits are likely to feed into the continued growth of solar jobs in the US. While we are a local solar company in Denver, we have been spoiled with resources that have allowed us to create value for all our customers with affordable systems that eliminate pure dependence on utility power.
Last year, we talked about how net metering, industry growth, and sun index have made Colorado the perfect place for generating electricity and value with rooftop solar panels. For those areas around the country where solar is less accessible, thankfully, the Department of Energy is working to cut the cost of residential and small-scale use by 60% within the next ten years.
Renewable Goals from Around the State
Statewide, Colorado is currently following its “Roadmap to 100% Renewable Energy by 2040,” which stands on the shoulders of several strategies such as 2019’s Climate Action Plan To Reduce Pollution as well as the original 2007 Colorado Climate Action Plan.
So clearly, if Colorado is ahead of the national schedule for renewable development despite a roadmap set for 5 years after the national goal of 2035, the value of disputed development is heavily influencing the growth of solar and wind for individuals, families, and organizations throughout the state.
Alongside this, some of the state's largest cities and landowners have recognized the economic benefits of renewable energy and have set more ambitious goals to encourage others to reap the rewards. Here are a few of the more localized renewable goals for some of the areas with Colorado’s largest highest density of energy users:
Denver: 100% Renewable Electricity by 2030
Fort Collins: Community goal of 100% renewable electricity by 2030
Colorado Springs Utilities: Reduce carbon emissions at least 80% by 2030 and 90% by 2050
Pueblo: 100% renewable energy by 2035
Vail Resorts: Company-wide goal of 100% renewable electricity by 2030.
Best yet, the city of Aspen set its sights on renewables over a century ago, as it was the first community west of the Mississippi River to utilize hydroelectricity. Today, Aspen has set the benchmark for Colorado’s other towns and is already using 100% renewable electricity in 2021.
Go Solar Today
While many people would love to go back in time and install rooftop solar panels a decade ago, today, 2021 remains the most cost-efficient time to go solar for maximum savings on home electricity.
While utilities are doing their best to transition to renewable energy themselves, it is very easy to doubt that this will lead to any savings in your monthly electricity bill. After all, when was the last time you got an email letting you know that the price of your electricity would be going down?
Before you go solar anywhere in the world, we recommend looking at several providers to find the best value and service for your long-term investment in renewable energy. And if a deal seems too good to be true, make sure you don’t fall for any common solar gimmicks!
Apollo Energy serves the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado and Wyoming.
We’ve installed megawatts of solar in Denver, Fort Collins, Cheyenne, Pueblo, and everywhere in between, always providing our customers with as much value as possible. If you’d like to talk more about going solar with Denver’s first B-Corp-certified provider, contact us today.
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