Climate Change Solutions Update

Tag: Colorado

  • A Colorado school built to weather the storm

    Mountain Middle School in Durango, Colorado has successfully transitioned to a net-zero-energy, all-electric building through the implementation of solar installations and battery energy storage systems. Led by Executive Director Shane Voss, the school has funded the project through existing per pupil revenue and grants, showcasing the potential for schools to set a national example for sustainable and climate-resilient practices. The school's solar arrays and battery storage system not only allow it to operate independently during power outages, making it a resilience hub for the community, but also serve as a learning laboratory for students, inspiring interest in clean energy careers. By transforming its gymnasium into a community resilience hub with a solar microgrid, Mountain Middle School is not only saving $28,000 per year in electricity costs but also influencing other schools and families to install solar energy systems, demonstrating the practical benefits of renewable energy to the broader community.

    https://generation180.org/blog/colorado-school-built-to-weather-the-storm/

  • Colorado has provided the blueprint for integrating community power

    Colorado is leading the way in deploying distributed solar and storage resources through its Dispatchable Distributed Generation program, which prioritizes community scale projects to address rising energy demand and prices. By requiring utilities to purchase community scale solar co-located with mid-scale batteries, the program evaluates projects based on their value to the electric system, considering geographical benefits and impact on the grid. Developed with speed in mind to remove barriers that slow project deployment, this program serves as a guide for other states to utilize distributed energy resources to address grid needs, keep costs low for consumers, and ensure power reliability. Emphasizing the importance of competition, planning, and collaboration among utilities, developers, regulators, and consumers, Colorado aims to fill capacity gaps, reduce peak demand pressures, and tap into private investment and competitive market forces.

    https://www.utilitydive.com/news/colorado-has-provided-the-blueprint-for-integrating-community-power/826175/

  • A plug-in solar solution that utilities and lawmakers can agree on

    The momentum for plug-in solar systems is rapidly growing in the U.S. and Europe, with several states passing legislation to allow residents to use these systems in their homes. This legislation aims to help residents save money on energy bills and reduce reliance on fossil fuels, while also potentially reducing or deferring future infrastructure upgrade costs for utilities. The need for a two-pronged approach in plug-in solar state legislation is emphasized, with a focus on establishing tiered wattage definitions and capping energy export to the grid at 400 watts to ensure safety and grid reliability. States like Utah, Colorado, and Maine are leading the way in creating regulations that support the safe and successful implementation of plug-in solar systems, promoting the widespread and safe adoption of solar energy as America's cost-saving energy future.

    https://www.utilitydive.com/news/the-plug-in-solar-solution-that-utilities-and-lawmakers-can-agree-on-2/826058/

  • 6 States Leading the USA on Smart Energy Policy Halfway through 2026

    In 2026, six states, including Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, Illinois, New York, and Colorado, have passed smart solar and storage policies to address rising electricity demand, lower power bills, and improve grid reliability. These policies, supported by SEIA, aim to deploy solar and storage, expand access to low-cost electricity, and save consumers billions of dollars over the next two decades. By investing in distributed energy resources and virtual power plant programs, these states are leading the way in modernizing their electric grids and demonstrating the effectiveness of clean energy solutions in meeting electricity demand, improving reliability, and reducing costs. Other states are also considering similar legislation to advance their clean energy goals.

    https://cleantechnica.com/2026/07/20/6-states-leading-the-usa-on-smart-energy-policy-halfway-through-2026/

  • Colorado co-op delivers 100% renewables in March, a first

    Holy Cross Energy in Colorado achieved providing renewable electricity equivalent to 100% of its members' needs in March, moving closer to their goal of continual renewable energy production from 2030 onwards. This milestone was made possible by favorable conditions for wind and solar energy production. The utility plans to add more flexible renewable resources to meet demand during non-solar hours and winter months, while maintaining system reliability and cost-effectiveness. With over 45,000 members served and an average of 92% clean energy delivered year-to-date in 2026, Holy Cross Energy's strategic partnership with The Energy Authority is helping to maximize renewable energy procurement efforts.

    https://www.utilitydive.com/news/colorado-electric-co-op-marks-first-month-serving-100-renewables/822042/

  • An Easier Path To Heat Pumps: Monthly Lease, No Up-Front Cost

    Heat pumps are gaining popularity in the US due to their energy efficiency, with sales surpassing gas furnaces for the fourth consecutive year in 2025. Startups like Quilt are developing more efficient systems and partnering with companies like Palmetto to reduce installation costs and expand rapidly across North America. Programs such as "Power Ahead Colorado" are working to accelerate heat pump adoption by addressing financial barriers and providing contractor training. Partnerships between companies like Palmetto and Quilt are offering monthly plans to make it easier for homeowners to switch to energy-efficient HVAC systems, while organizations like the Building Decarbonization Coalition are addressing permitting obstacles to streamline the process for energy upgrades. The focus on scalability and innovation in the built environment sector is evident in these developments, with companies like Symbium receiving investments to strengthen their leadership in instant permitting.

    https://cleantechnica.com/2026/05/29/heat-pumps-us-startup-quilt-lease-finance/

  • NLR Partners With Colorado School of Mines and University of Utah To Scale Up US Critical Minerals Capacity

    The National Laboratory of the Rockies has signed memorandums of understanding with the Colorado School of Mines and the University of Utah to strengthen America's energy and material supply chains through critical minerals innovation, commercialization, and workforce development. The partnerships aim to scale up technologies for stronger supply chains and energy security, enabling integrated research and facility sharing to support concept-to-commercialization scalability of critical minerals innovations and build a skilled domestic workforce. The collaboration includes launching new facilities for critical minerals research and innovation in Colorado, focusing on advancing technologies related to materials supply chains, critical minerals, advanced materials, and manufacturing using AI-enabled science workflows and high-performance computing. These partnerships aim to accelerate innovation, education, and workforce development in the field of climate solutions, leveraging the capabilities of academic institutions to address challenges in energy resilience and critical minerals research.

    https://cleantechnica.com/2026/05/18/nlr-partners-with-colorado-school-of-mines-and-university-of-utah-to-scale-up-us-critical-minerals-capacity/

  • 14 New EV Chargers To Be Installed In Aspen, Colorado

    Aspen, Colorado is expanding its public EV charging infrastructure with 14 new chargers at seven sites, adding to the existing 24 ports in the city. The move to electrification is seen as crucial in addressing climate change impacts and rising gas prices. The total cost for the new chargers is estimated at $217,297.08, making them affordable for the city. Electric vehicles can be charged with clean, renewable energy sources like solar, wind, hydropower, and geothermal, aligning with Aspen's 100% renewable energy goal and supporting the transition away from fossil fuels.

    https://cleantechnica.com/2026/05/17/14-new-ev-chargers-to-be-installed-in-aspen-colorado/

  • Colorado Legislature sends ‘advanced transmission technology’ bill to governor

    Colorado lawmakers recently passed legislation requiring regulated utilities to consider advanced transmission technologies to improve grid efficiency, with a focus on increasing the state's ability to import/export electricity, speeding up new generation/load hookup, and reducing wildfire risk. The bill mandates utilities to include analysis of these technologies in their 10-year transmission plans, as research shows they can save customers money and free up capacity. Similar requirements are being implemented in other states like Virginia to enhance their grids. The organization released a report on October 24, likely discussing climate-related issues.

    https://www.utilitydive.com/news/colorado-advanced-transmission-technology-gets-bill/817545/

  • Increased spacing between solar module rows boosts agrivoltaics viability

    U.S. researchers from Colorado University, National Laboratory of the Rockies, Colorado State University, and the Colorado Department of Agriculture have developed a framework showing that wider spacing between solar PV rows can make agrivoltaic systems economically viable for large-scale mechanized farming. Their simulations in Colorado demonstrated that optimized row spacing maintains crop production while improving combined agricultural and energy revenues. The study found that wider-row agrivoltaic solutions can provide economic benefits over traditional utility-scale PV systems, with $200/acre in agricultural profit justifying spacing panels at least 9.662 m apart. The framework defines different PV row-spacing scenarios, determines installed PV capacity, incorporates agricultural equipment constraints, calculates crop revenues, estimates electricity generation and revenue, and calculates metrics such as net present value and levelized cost of energy. The team simulated a 160-acre project in Colorado with different crop scenarios and PPA prices, highlighting the sensitivity of results to equipment size.

    https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/03/13/increased-spacing-between-solar-module-rows-boosts-agrivoltaics-viability/