|
LITTLETON, COLO. – (May 20, 2015) An increasing number of municipalities and public agencies across the country are joining residents and businesses in utilizing locally-produced renewable energy via community solar facilities to power operations and save on utility expenses. Colorado-based Clean Energy Collective (CEC), the nation’s leading community solar developer, announced today that Foothills Park & Recreation District (FHPRD), a Colorado special district that provides recreational facilities and services for residents across a portion of Jefferson County, has made a significant purchase in a CEC community-shared solar facility. FHPRD is projected to save nearly $1,000,000 over the 20-year program.
FHPRD, which serves approximately 93,000 residents within a 24.2 square mile area of Southwest Metro Denver, has purchased 73.8 kilowatts, or 314 solar PV panels, in CEC’s Jefferson County Community Solar Array located in nearby Golden, Colo. The renewable energy produced by the solar panels, over 120,000 kWh’s per year, will help offset the power requirements for the District’s high demand irrigation systems that serve its Foothills Golf Course and Meadows Golf Club courses.
“Operating and maintaining our recreational facilities is costly. CEC’s community-shared solar is a phenomenal solution that can both help us save money and support the environmental interests of our board and community members,” said Ron Hopp, Foothills Park & Recreation’s executive director.
“We’re very excited to welcome Foothills Park & Recreation District as a community-shared solar customer,” said CEC founder and CEO Paul Spencer. “It’s exciting that CEC’s solution will play a significant role in the Districts utility expense management, saving them thousands of dollars every month.”
CEC’s community solar model allows electric customers of any kind to buy into locally-sited, medium-scale solar arrays and receive credit for the power produced directly on their monthly utility bills. This option is especially attractive for renters, people who live in apartments, and home and business owners with roofs that are shaded, face the wrong direction, or may otherwise be unsuitable for solar panel installations.
Demand for community solar is growing among municipalities and special districts as many have proactive sustainability initiatives that include using renewable energy. In addition, such entities are often highly scrutinized for responsibly managing public funds; community solar provides both an environmentally friendly and financially attractive solution.
Foothills’ purchase will allow it to offset power used at multiple facilities, recouping its investment in less than seven years, with a first-year payback of 13% and more than 270% after 20 years – all without forfeiting any open space or adding to its maintenance obligations.
“The financial impacts may only be shadowed by the ease of implementation and lack of District resource requirements for maintenance and operations. I am proud to have been a part of the team that made this purchase a reality,” said Hopp.
The environmental benefit of Foothills’ purchase is equivalent to the reduction of more than 4 million pounds of CO2 emissions, 4.5 million miles of car travel, or the CO2 absorption power of 6,000 trees.
About Clean Energy Collective
Clean Energy Collective (CEC) is the nation’s leading developer of community solar solutions. CEC pioneered the model of delivering clean power-generation through large-scale facilities that are collectively owned by participating utility customers. Since establishing the first community-shared solar garden in the country in 2010 near El Jebel, Colorado, CEC has built or has under development more than 90 community solar projects with 19 utility partners across 9 states, representing 100 MW of community solar capacity. www.easycleanenergy.com
|