From the GEO Website:

"Coloradans can soon tap into millions of Recovery Act dollars and take steps to save money, boost the economy and save energy as the Governor's Energy Office and partners prepare to launch a sweeping, statewide rebate program April 19. This initiative is designed to bring energy efficiency and renewable energy to tens of thousands of Coloradans and will provide nearly 75,000 rebates worth approximately $22 million."

For 2010, the Colorado GEO solar rebate is set at $1.50 per watt (up to 3kW for residential and 10kW for commercial projects). Several rural and co-op electric utilities in Colorado are offering matching funds to the GEO rebate, bringing the overall solar rebate up to $3 per watt. This is more than the current Xcel Energy and Black Hills Energy solar rebate of $2.55 per watt in Colorado.

Astralux has special GEO 3kW solar packages for Residential and 10kW packages for Small Business projects. These packages come with a free energy audit of your home or business.

Funds for the GEO solar rebate are first-come, first-serve.

http://www.astraluxsolar.com/Astralux_GEO_Solar_Package.pdf

Following in Xcel Energy's footsteps, Black Hills Energy is reducing the solar rebate for small category systems in Colorado (less than 10kW). The rebate will drop from $3.50 per watt down to $2.70 per watt, a reduction of 23%.

This $0.80 per watt reduction in the Black Hills Energy solar rebate will be effective at Midnight tonight (January 15th).

The Black Hills Energy solar rebate, like Xcel Energy, is a combination of a rebate payment and a renewable energy credit (REC) payment. The REC payment of the small category incentive (currently at $1.50 per watt) will decrease to $0.70 per watt, the rebate payment ($2 per watt) is fixed and thus will remain unchanged.

Xcel Energy has initiated similar reductions to their solar rewards rebates over the past several months. Xcel released a new tiered rebate system to inform solar integrators and customers exactly when and how their solar rebate would change in the future. The California Solar Initiative (CSI) has a similar method of distributing rebates.

If you are a Black Hills Energy customer in Colorado, please contact us today if you are interested in solar for your home or business.

Link: http://bit.ly/79JDZ6

2009 was an incredible and adventurous year for solar energy in Colorado, the nation, and the world. Here were the highlights:

1) Despite the recession, the amount of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems sold and installed in Colorado increased by over 90%.

2) Over $50 million in solar energy rebates were distributed statewide.

3) The small category (under 10kW in size) saw the greatest increase, going from 6.02 megawatts (MW) installed in 2008 to 12.5MW in 2009.

4) A European solar module supply gut led to solar system material prices dropping by as much as 50%...

Read More...

Astralux has confirmed that Black Hills Energy, based in Southern Colorado, will be reducing its nation-leading solar energy rebate by $1 per watt - from $4.50 to $3.50 per watt - on September 1st.

This news is also fueling rumors that Xcel Energy may also reduce its solar rebate as well, anywhere from $0.50 to $1.00 - also on September 1st.

If you are a Black Hills Customer and are interested in solar energy, you must act fast! We can reserve the $4.50 per watt rebate for you before it goes down on Tuesday. Contact us to secure your rebate before it is reduced by over 20%.

It is a unique time for the solar industry here in Colorado. The utility rebates offered by Xcel, Black Hills, and other local energy companies remain among the best in the nation. All the while, the price of solar modules has drastically dropped - due to a large surplus from lower demand in the European markets.

The last time we had news that favored the solar energy consumer here in Colorado was October of last year. That was when it was announced that the Federal Tax Credit for solar energy had been increased to 30% with no cap on the amount you could be credited. This resulted in Xcel suddenly announcing that they were reducing their solar rebate from $4.50 to $3.50 per watt, a reduction of 22%. Xcel Energy reserves the right the reduce the amount of the rebate at ANY time.

With these lower materials cost and fierce cost competition in the local solar industry, solar energy is the cheapest it has ever been here in Colorado - even with the rebate at $3.50 per watt. Due to this new situation, we predict that Xcel will soon move to further reduce the rebate in an effort, much like last October, to level the cost of solar and keep demand at a manageable level.

This reduction could come next week, it could come in several months. The fact remains that these next 2 - 3 months may prove to be the best time ever to invest in solar for your Colorado Home or Business. To reiterate...

1) Solar module prices (the bulk of the cost of a system) have drastically decreased over the past 9 months. However, the past two months has seen prices level out as European demand for solar slowly bounces back.

2) Xcel (for the time being) has held their rebates at $3.50 per watt and Black Hills (Southern Colorado) remains at $4.50 per watt, making them the #1 utility rebate in the US. These rebates will be reduced, it's only a matter of when.

3) Colorado electricity rates have risen faster than any state over the past decade. Xcel has issued rate increases at least once every year since 2002 - making Colorado their #1 revenue source.

4) Colorado is meeting its Renewable Portfolio Standards faster than anticipated - meaning any rebate for solar (especially residential) may not be around for much longer.

The Colorado solar energy market continues to grow, despite the current economic recession. Colorado is on pace to break last year's record of systems sold for both residential and commercial applications - as this industry contiunes to reward solar pioneers with rebates and credits.

Solar and renewable energies will continue to be a driving force in Colorado's economy for decades to come. But for the consumer, solar energy may never be more economical than it is now.