P10-Energy-Production

2. Energy Production

With energy production dominated by utility companies, production strategies require close cooperation with the utilities and a commitment to expand, adopt and implement polices to address responsible development of renewable energy production projects.

Energy production strategies offer the greatest potential for creating local jobs as well as enhancing revenue for existing businesses, including agriculture. For example, in addition to creating jobs and revenue, woody biomass fuel production would also support wildfire mitigation in areas suffering from unhealthy overgrowth or beetle kill. Bio-fuel strategies could promote new cash crops for local agriculture, while distributed solar and wind electricity production can offset energy expenditures and offer long-term revenue opportunities.

2.1 Sustainable Energy Finance Program

Action
Support the development of county, municipal and/or special district Property-Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) programs to finance renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements for local property owners as authorized with the passage in 2008 of H.B. 1350 (C.R.S. 30-20-601.5 and C.R.S. 31-25-500.2).

Implementation
Implementing a PACE program requires voter approval to issue bonds that would finance clean energy resource development. Voter-approved bonds can be issued through the county, municipalities or through a special improvement district.

Qualifying improvements would be determined locally and could include technologies for solar water heating, solar thermal electricity, photovoltaic electricity, wind-generated power, biomass energy, hydroelectric power, geothermal electricity, bio-fuels and hydrogen fuel cells.

Funds for a PACE program can be generated using existing bond potential or by creating improvement districts that issue bonds. The bonds provide financing for qualifying renewable energy improvements, and loans are repaid through a special property assessment.

2.2 Renewable Energy Production

Action
Partner with utilities and private businesses to develop local distributed energy production.

Implementation
Consider construction of larger energy production capacity through bond issues, partnerships with business and other appropriate measures. As identified in the “Renewable Energy Resources” section, the most promising local possibilities include solar-based technologies, geothermal-based applications and bio-fuels, including bio-fuel crop production and bio-fuel processing (e.g., Solix facility near Durango).

Promote enhanced use of net-zero construction principles to supply locally produced power on a building-by-building basis.

2.3 Utility Rebates

Action
Maximize the use of utility rebate incentives.

Implementation
Consider using utility rebates to install renewable energy production equipment at public facilities. Encourage residents and business to take advantage of these rebates as well.

2.4 Utility Incentives

Action
Support increased utility demand and power supply incentives, including an aggressive renewable portfolio standard.

Implementation
Partner with local utilities to support incentivized energy conscious policies and accelerated implementation of Smart Grid technology.

2.5 Solar Equipment Leasing

Action
Allow for lease-to-own programs for residential solar power equipment and commercial solar systems up to 500 kilowatts.

Implementation
Investigate programs created under new state legislation, including SolarCity in Westminster and SunRun of San Francisco. Both companies have developed lease-to-own programs for residential solar power equipment and commercial systems in Colorado.