2015 has proven to be an exceptional year for GRID Colorado. We are very proud to receive a recently announced $1.2 million grant award from the Colorado Energy Office- the country’s first-ever statewide investment in community solar exclusively for low-income families. The Grant award will be used to administer a demonstration project that will include the development of 5 to 12 community solar arrays of variable size and scale solely for low-income households predominately in rural communities across our beautiful state. Cumulatively, the project will provide more than 1MW of solar generation.
Over the course of this newly awarded Colorado Energy Office grant, GRID Colorado will provide solar electricity to a minimum of 300 low-income families with a goal to offset monthly utility expenses by at least 50%. Through GRID’s barn-raising model, these community solar installations will also provide an estimated 2,000 hours of “in the field” installation experience for community members, job trainees and students interested in pursuing a career in solar.
Community solar arrays further develop GRID’s mission to make renewable energy technology and job training accessible to underserved communities by reducing the cost of production and reaching any families with a utility bill- no roof required. Chuck Watkins, GRID Colorado’s Executive Director believes that ‘innovative demonstration project[s] will not only extend clean energy benefits to low-income families, but also begin to address energy burden in a comprehensive manner.’ We greatly appreciate the Colorado Energy Office for recognizing GRID’s potential in this fast-growing community solar market and are excited to break ground on future low-income dedicated community solar arrays.
For more details, read the Solar Electric Power Association blog and case study on how it all came together
Read GRID’s official press release HERE