In its seventh year, the Solar Forward Program is wrapping up its summer programs with many successes from community coordinators. So far this year Solar Forward has worked with four communities: San Miguel County for education and outreach in partnership with the non-profit Solar United Neighbors; Grand County as a consultant for a for-profit solar company, Active Energies Solutions; and advising two communities on implementing their Solarize campaigns, Eagle County and the Town of Superior. These four communities and the consulting they received from Solar Forward were all unique, but focused on Solar Forward’s main purpose: to help communities meet local sustainability goals, achieve economic development benefits, and create jobs in the solar industry.
San Miguel County hosted its second solar group buy-in program this year, the first being in the Town of Mountain Village in 2021. Solar Forward partnered with Solar United Neighbors, which facilitates solar co-ops, to assist with education and outreach for the county. This partnership was to assist with local greenhouse gas reduction goals under the Regional Climate Action Plan. Of the 92 families who signed up for the Uncompahgre Solar Co-op, 17 have already committed to moving forward with solar with Atlasta Solar Center. These 17 households represent over 107 kilowatts of installed solar capacity. That is a projected $700k in electricity savings over 25 years and a projected 2,245 metric tons of CO2e offsets. That is equivalent to taking 484 cars off the road annually.
The solar company Active Energies Solutions (AES) has worked with three Solar Forward community partners at this point, including Summit, Garfield, and Eagle counties. AES approached Solar Forward about consulting on growing its presence in Grand County this summer. After discussing goals with AES and fleshing out how Solar Forward may involve the local energy efficiency program administrator and other stakeholders, Solar Forward agreed to assist the for-profit company in developing its presence in Grand County. Grand County’s solar discount was dubbed the Summer of Solar 2022 and resulted in one new job in solar, and 19 new contracts totaling 175 kilowatts, which is more than AES had done in Grand County in the last three years combined! Solar Forward estimates that about $138,033 from those solar installations will be reinvested in the local economy through permitting, labor, and other operating expenses.
Walking Mountains Science Center led Eagle County’s first Solarize campaign and surpassed their program goal of 550 kilowatts by working with AES to develop 638 kilowatts of new rooftop solar! These contracts also include 20 battery-backup customers. AES, as mentioned, has worked with other Solar Forward communities and found a lot of success working with local non-profits like Walking Mountains that manage lead generation while AES offers a significant discount to program participants. AES has partnered with the highly successful Solarize Summit campaigns from High Country Conservation Center since its inaugural Solarize effort in 2019. Since then, Summit has successfully managed its Solarize programs without Solar Forward’s consulting, and thus AES has installed over four megawatts of solar with the Solarize model. For reference, those four megawatts of solar are equivalent to 5,173 metric tons of CO2 emissions avoided or 1,115 vehicles removed from the road annually. AES told Solar Forward that along with hiring four new employees, they have been able to subcontract a newer, smaller company to assist with 135 kilowatts of installations at the standards and pricing for which AES is known. The Solarize model is having a huge impact in mitigating emissions and supporting the growth of the solar industry in mountain communities.
Located on the front range of Colorado, the Town of Superior reached over 130 community members through Solarize Superior. The primary goals of Solarize for Superior were to develop the solar conversation in the community, connect people with the benefits of energy efficiency, and work with a local solar company. Solar Forward worked with Superior’s Sustainability Department to tailor the Request for Proposal (RFP) process with its goals in mind, thus Superior vetted and selected a local solar contractor and developed a marketing strategy to communicate the benefits of energy efficiency and solar to the community. To continue Superior’s efforts, Solar Forward will be presenting with SEI’s Solar in the Schools program at Superior’s “Eco-Tober” event in December, just kidding, the event is Sunday, October 2 at Centaurus High School in Lafayette, Colorado. Come learn about green jobs and the Solar Forward program! Find out more here.
If your community is interested in facilitating a solar campaign to meet local sustainability goals, achieve economic development benefits, and create jobs in the solar industry, reach out to [email protected] to apply to Solar Forward.
