Aspen Solar Pioneer Program - PV Production Incentive

Summary

The Community Office for Resource Efficiency (CORE) will pay a solar production incentive for the installation of grid-connected photovoltaic systems on homes or businesses under its Sun Power Pioneers program. Sun Power Pioneers will earn 25 cents per kilowatt-hour for all the power their systems produce for four years. Maximum incentive is $1000 per year or $4000 for each system. Business can qualify for an investment tax credit of 10% with a solar system. A zero-percent loan is also available. This incentive is available to residents of the Roaring Fork Valley. It is sponsored by CORE in partnership with the City of Aspen and Holy Cross Energy. CORE has also received foundation grants to support its solar production incentive program. The Renewable Energy Mitigation Program also supports Sun Power Pioneers. Under the program, your utility provider must be Holy Cross Energy or Aspen Municipal Electric. Your PV system must include a separate PV meter to measure its output. Holy Cross will donate the meter. CORE will read it once a year, prior to paying the solar incentives. CORE will pay the first year's incentive up-front, based on their estimate of its annual production. Your second and final incentive payments will be paid at the end of the 2nd and 3rd years your system operates. Your system must be installed by a certified installer, use UL-listed components, and be inspected by the electrical inspector before you receive your first incentive payment. Holy Cross and Aspen Municipal Electric have agreed to net meter the first 50 kilowatts of PV in their service territories. That means your meter can spin backward and the utility will give you full retail credit for any surplus you generate.