State Overview
Colorado
National Solar Capacity Ranking: 15th
National Energy Storage Capacity Ranking: 6th
Updated June 2026
Colorado State Solar Overview
Colorado, with over 300 sunny days per year, has tremendous solar potential and was one of the first states in the U.S. to adopt a Renewable Energy Standard. The state has since moved toward broader clean energy targets and continues to expand rooftop, community, and utility scale solar. SEIA is actively engaged in legislative and regulatory advocacy to support continued solar and storage growth and deployment.
SEIA Colorado State Policy Priorities
- SEIA and the Colorado Solar and Storage Association (COSSA) collaborate closely to expand solar access and increase solar penetration in Colorado.
- SEIA has consistently advocated for solar and storage in Colorado through testimony in the Colorado Renewable Energy Standard plan, electric resource planning processes, stakeholder discussions with Xcel Energy, and additional commission filings.
- SEIA, COSSA, and coalition partners helped pass SB 218 and SB 207 in 2024, which modernized the distribution system to facilitate solar and storage interconnection and expanded access to community solar. Current efforts are focused on implementation and ensuring these reforms translate into increased deployment.
- During the 2026 session, SEIA helped pass a slate of legislation that improves the interconnection process for projects and will help projects qualify for federal tax credits. These bills include:
- HB26-1007: Expands consumer access to portable-scale solar generation devices (plug in solar) and requires all utilities to allow meter collar adapters for DERs.
- HB26-1225: Ensures community solar bill credits will keep pace with utility rate trends, sets pathway for 3rd party interconnection studies and upgrades, introduces flexibility in dispatchable distributed generation program to allow stand-alone storage.
- HB26-1268: Allows a local government to designate areas within its jurisdiction as renewable energy investment areas for the siting of renewable energy and energy storage system projects. (primarily a brownfields incentive bill)
- HB26-1326: Reauthorizes Colorado Public Utilities Commission through 9/1/2033. Requires utilities to provide information to project developers to claim ITC for qualified interconnection property, ensures continuation of requirement of DG equal to or greater than 3% of retail sales, directs PUC to evaluate opportunities to streamline procurement/RFP processes.
- HB26-1289: Extends state residential storage tax credit through end of 2029.
Colorado Major Solar and Storage Projects
SEIA’s Major Solar Projects List is a database of all U.S. ground-mounted solar projects, 1 MW and above, that are either operating, under construction or under development.
Official SEIA State Affiliate
Just The Facts
- Solar Installed (MW):
5,687 MWdc
- Storage Capacity
2,281 MWh
- National Ranking:
15th (9th in 2025 additions)
- Enough Solar Installed to Power:
1,204,548 homes
- Percentage of State's Electricity from Solar:
14.18%
- Solar Jobs:
8,071
- Solar Companies in State:
379 (42 Manufacturers, 169 Installers/Developers, 168 Others)
- Total Solar Investment in State:
$10.9 billion
- Growth Projection and Ranking:
6,039 MW over the next 5 years (ranks 11th)
- Number of Installations:
168,391
Colorado State Solar Policy Resources
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Official SEIA State Affiliate – Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association (COSEIA)
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Colorado State Energy Office – Find a wide variety of information on state government energy programs, policy, projects, energy-saving strategies and energy-related statistics
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Colorado Solar Panels Overview – Learn about the history of solar policy in Colorado, along with up-to-date pricing information on EnergySage
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DSIRE Incentives Database – Colorado – Search a public clearinghouse for specific solar energy incentives in Colorado and across the United States
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Solar Panel Cost in Colorado – Learn about the history of solar policy in Colorado, along with up-to-date pricing information on EnergySage
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Solar Rebates & Incentives in Colorado – Check out EnergySage’s list of key solar incentives in Colorado to see what programs you can benefit from
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U.S. Energy Information Administration – Colorado State Profile – Explore official energy statistics, including data on electricity supply and demand, from the U.S. government
Colorado State Consumer Protection
Colorado law prohibits deceptive trade practices, requires registration for commercial telephone solicitations, and governs home solicitation agreements, including required terms and cooling-off periods.
Colorado Energy Storage Policy and Market Overview
Colorado is one the country’s fastest-growing storage markets. The state continues to advance policies supporting battery storage, including consumer protections, utility planning requirements, and streamlined interconnection for distributed systems.
Financial incentives and state programs are accelerating both standalone and solar-plus-storage deployment, while a growing industry base of hundreds of solar and storage companies supports continued market growth.
Colorado Energy Storage Policy Resources
- Residential Energy Storage System Tax Credit –Income tax credit for installing energy storage systems at residential properties.
- Battery Energy Storage Systems Study – Report on technical, economic, and environmental impacts of integrating BESS in Colorado.
- Microgrids for Community Resilience Program –Grant funding for projects that improve community resilience, reduce grid disruptions like DERs and battery storage.
- Colorado Microgrid Roadmap – Microgrid Roadmap initiative information, objectives, and pilot programs administered by the Colorado Energy Office.
- Colorado Industrial Tax Credit Offering – State tax credits for eligible industrial emissions-reduction projects, including storage.
- Holy Cross Distributed Flexibility Programs –Power+ monthly credit programs, upfront incentives, loan financing options and more.
- Xcel Renewable Battery Connect –Battery storage incentives offered to Xcel utility customers in Colorado.
- Gunnison County Electric Association Home Battery Rebate – Home battery rebates for GCEA residential customers.
- Holy Cross Energy Renewable Energy Incentives – Renewable energy and battery energy storage incentives, and information on net metering compensation offered to Holy Cross Energy customers.
- DSIRE Colorado Energy Storage Policy Database – Clearinghouse for financial incentives, regulations, and rebates for energy storage and lithium-ion technologies in Colorado and across the United States.
- Energy Storage Cost in Colorado – Up-to-date storage and solar-plus-storage pricing and find installers in Colorado on EnergySage.
- Colorado Public Utilities Commission – Governing body that regulates the electricity rates and services of Colorado public utilities, search for regulatory dockets, programs, and initiatives.
- Colorado General Assembly – Pending, passed, and historical legislation affecting energy storage and battery systems, locate and contact individual legislators, and stay up to date on current legislative issues in Colorado.
Data References
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