Colorado's solar industry continues to gather steam

Aspen Business Journal

The solar industry continues to gather steam in Colorado, even as many subsidies have been changed or reduced.

Colorado was one of only five states to increase its third quarter photovoltaic (PV) solar portfolio more than 5 megawatts in the third quarter of this year, compared to last year’s third quarter, according to a report from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and GTM Research released on Dec. 11. Overall, the U.S. solar PV market grew by 684 megawatts in the third quarter of 2012, 44 percent more than in the third quarter of 2011.

Neal Lurie, the Executive Director of the Colorado chapter of SEIA, attributed much of that growth mostly to reduced installation costs. Most of the growth appears to be coming from larger or third-party installations, especially after the changes to the Xcel Solar*Rewards program last year eliminated up-front rebates for residential solar PV installation.