Solar power in Breckenridge: Going green for green

SUMMIT COUNTY — Financial incentives to install solar panels in Colorado are among the best in the country, said Sean McPherson, an engineer with Innovative Energy.

“They are growing in popularity every year,” he said. “Before rebates it wasn’t nearly as affordable.”

He said the average residential customer uses about 30 solar panels to produce 5.25 kilowatts. Installation costs about $9 per watt. This makes for an investment approaching $50,000.

Xcel Energy spokesman Mark Stutz said in an e-mail that the company’s rebates “cover approximately half the installation cost” of a typical residential customer’s photovoltaic system.

The energy provider offers a rebate to residents of $2 per watt, coupled with renewable energy credits of $2.50 per watt.

Stutz said that from March 2006, when the rebate program began, to the end of March 2008, there have been about 2,000 applications statewide and 1,313 of those paid out.

McPherson said systems he installs connects users with the local power grid.
“The utility buys power at the same rate they sell it to you,” he said. “During the day, when nobody’s home the meter essentially runs backwards.”

He said the benefits offset utility bills from 30 percent to 80 percent.

McPherson said the tax credits create remarkable incentives for commercial applications.