Renewable Energy | Adams County Government

Renewable Energy: County Goals

Adams County’s Sustainability Plan outlines two specific goals related to government and community renewable energy:

Increase use and procurement of renewable energy for county facilities
Expand, create, and advocate for equitable clean energy opportunities for all community members to reduce our carbon footprint.

The Plan also establishes targets to be achieved by 2030 to measure the progress of these goals:

100% of government facility energy to be supplied by renewable energy
5 government facilities with on-site solar
1 solar co-op created
20 C-PACE projects
2,600 total solar permits issues in the county since 2016

The energy supply mix of the county’s utility providers are quickly moving to increased renewable energy portfolios. The county has four utility providers with Xcel Energy and United Power covering the majority of Adams County residents. See the table below for 2030 renewable energy commitments.

With the increased renewable energy supply from our utilities and solar at some of our government facilities, the county is on the path to achieving this target. Currently, the county is performing site selection and feasibility analysis for solar energy.

In 2022, Adams County and the Cities of Northglenn and Westminster announced a regional collaboration with the nonprofit Solar United Neighbors (SUN) to launch the Adams County Solar Co-op to help area residents go solar to help achieve local climate and energy goals.

Environment

Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Traditional fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, release carbon dioxide (CO₂) and other greenhouse gases when burned, which contribute significantly to global warming. Renewable energy sources like solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal produce little to no emissions. Decreasing the quantity of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere will limit global warming and avoid dangerous temperature increases.

Preserving Ecosystems: Transitioning to renewables also reduces the environmental degradation associated with fossil fuel extraction, such as deforestation, habitat destruction, and oil spills.

Economy

Job Creation: The renewable energy sector has become a major source of employment, offering jobs in manufacturing, installation, maintenance, research, and development. The transition to renewables can create millions of new jobs globally, especially in emerging technologies such as solar and wind energy, electric vehicles, and energy storage.

New Industries and Technological Innovation: The renewable energy transition fosters innovation in energy storage, smart grids, and energy efficiency technologies, which can drive economic growth and open up new industries.

Public Health

Reduced Air and Water Pollution: Burning fossil fuels is a major source of air pollution, which leads to respiratory diseases, heart disease, and premature deaths. Renewable energy sources, in contrast, have minimal or no air pollution. Additionally, renewable energy systems generally use less water than conventional power plants, reducing stress on water resources.

Cleaner Environments: Transitioning to clean energy improves overall public health by reducing harmful pollutants that affect communities, especially in regions where fossil fuel extraction and power generation are concentrated.

Renewable Energy 101

Renewable energy refers to energy that comes from sources that are naturally replenishing and virtually inexhaustible over human timescales. Unlike fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas), which take millions of years to form and can be depleted, renewable energy sources are constantly available or can be naturally renewed in a short period.

Colorado has set ambitious renewable energy goals, with a target to achieve 100% carbon-free electricity by 2050. The state portfolio heavily relies on wind and solar energy.

Types of Renewable Energy:

Solar Energy: harnessed from the sun’s rays using photovoltaic (PV) panels or concentrated solar power (CSP) systems. Solar can be installed at the residential, commercial, and utility-scale level.

Wind Energy: generated by converting the kinetic energy of wind into electricity using wind turbines. Wind can be used on-shore and off-shore.

Hydropower: generates electricity from the movement of water, typically through dams built on rivers.

Geothermal Energy: heat that comes from beneath the Earth’s surface, either as steam or hot water, which can be used for heating or electricity generation. Geothermal can be used for the direct heating and cooling of buildings.

Biomass Energy: comes from organic materials, such as plants, wood, or agricultural and food waste, which can be burned or converted into biofuels.

Tidal and Wave Energy: harnesses the movement of tidal currents, while wave energy captures the motion of surface waves.

Hydrogen Energy: involves using hydrogen gas as a fuel source, which can be produced using renewable energy (electrolysis) to split water into hydrogen and oxygen.

Renewable Energy Financial Incentives

Solar energy is a great choice in Colorado due to the sunny weather. This page will go through the federal and state incentives available.

Residential Incentives

Federal Incentives

The Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit is a tax incentive designed to encourage the adoption of solar energy by reducing tax liability. With this credit, individuals can claim 30% of the total cost of solar equipment, including labor, materials and installation expenses.

Residents are required to own the solar panels, leasing is not eligible. If you purchased an interest in an off-site community solar project, this is also eligible.

Learn more about this incentive.

State of Colorado Incentives

Net Metering: Colorado has a generous net metering policy. Net metering allows you to connect your solar panels to a public-utility power grid. If you produce any excess energy that you don’t need right away, you can sell that energy back to the grid for credits that can be used toward your future energy bills.

Cash Rebates:

EnergySmart Colorado: Depending on your location, you could be eligible for a rebate of anywhere from $400 to $2,500.
Holy Cross Energy: this fantastic per-kilowatt (kW) rebate can equate to savings of as much as $3,000.

Learn more about rebates.

Weatherization Assistance Program: The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) is a state-level initiative to improve the energy efficiency of low-income households. The program provides eligible residents with various weatherization services like roof repairs and insulation, plus energy efficiency upgrades like solar systems to reduce energy consumption, lower utility bills and increase overall home comfort.

Learn more about income eligibility.

Colorado Solar Property Tax Exemption

Sales and Use Tax Exemption for Renewable Energy Equipment prevents you from having to pay sales tax when you purchase your solar system.
Property Tax Exemption for Residential Renewable Energy Equipment means you won’t have to pay property tax on the increased value of your house as a result of the installation of your solar system.

Business and Tax-Except Organization Incentives

Federal Incentives

There are two tax credits available for businesses and other entities like nonprofits and local and tribal governments that purchase solar energy systems:

The investment tax credit (ITC) is a tax credit that reduces the federal income tax liability for a percentage of the cost of a solar system that is installed during the tax year.
The production tax credit (PTC) is a per kilowatt-hour (kWh) tax credit for electricity generated by solar and other qualifying technologies for the first 10 years of a system’s operation. It reduces the federal income tax liability and is adjusted annually for inflation.

Solar systems that are placed in service in 2022 or later and begin construction before 2033 are eligible for a 30% ITC or a 2.75 ¢/kWh PTC if they meet labor requirements issued by the Treasury Department or are under 1 megawatt (MW) in size.

Learn more about these incentives.

State of Colorado Incentives

Colorado does not have a state tax incentive for renewable energy but businesses can take advantage of net metering.

Solar Resources

You can browse information on going solar for your home and your business, while solar contractors can use our E-Permit Center to submit applications electronically. The Office of Sustainability also has compiled a list of links to resources for county residents and businesses interested in going solar.

In July 2017, SolSmart, a program funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s SunShot Initiative to help communities increase the use of solar power, awarded Adams County a gold designation as a national leader in advancing solar energy. The county was one of just 40 nationwide to receive the gold designation, the highest level awarded.