Since Colorado receives about 300 days of sun per year, our state provides an excellent platform for solar power.
Solar electric, or photovoltaic, systems convert the renewable energy of the sun into useful electricity.
Benefits
- Easy on the environment: Since solar power does not use fossil fuels, these systems are pollution free.
- Provides customer options when it comes to energy resources
- Solar customers can earn credit for net generation their utilities bills
- Helps meet climate change regulations
- Government incentives and utilities rebates can help offset the cost
You can also use the sun's energy to heat your water.
Teaming up with our community
To help increase the use of solar power in our own community, we've established customer relationships in order to install solar arrays, a linked collection of photovoltaic panels.
The next time you visit downtown Colorado Springs, check out the system at Old Town Bike Shop on South Tejon. School District 11 also completed an array at their offices on Geiger Boulevard.
U.S. Air Force Academy Solar
An artist rendering of a 4- to 5-megawatt solar array to be built by Colorado Springs Utilities at the U.S. Air Force Academy. The energy produced will provide 4 to 7 percent of the total power requirement for the Academy. The plant will be funded entirely with federal stimulus money provided to the Academy. Click here for updated details on the project.
Powering our facilities
We use solar energy to power some of our own facilities, like the Conservation and Environmental Center at 2855 Mesa Road. When you visit the center, check out the panels on the roof and look for the solar power information display in our Xeriscape™ garden.
We also use solar power at some of our remote locations, such as reservoirs and pump stations.
