Qualifying Summit County Businesses and Residents Could Obtain Almost $2,000 in Rebates for Solar Panel Installations This Year
Some residents and businesses in Summit County, Colorado might be in for a sizable discount on solar panel installations this year, with rebates totaling up to $1,950. This is made possible through a local initiative dedicated to encouraging solar energy usage in the area.
High Country Conservation Center and Summit Climate Action Collaborative, two entities that actively advocate for climate-friendly practices, are the driving forces behind the Solarize Summit program. They’ve partnered with Active Energies Solar, LLC, a prominent energy equipment supplier based in Eagle County, to offer this opportunity.
The Solarize Summit initiative includes a rebate of $300 from Active Energies Solar, which is the program’s exclusive installer. Moreover, there are local government rebates on offer — up to $1,650 for residents and businesses in Breckenridge and unincorporated Summit County and $1,500 for those based in Frisco.
But the incentives don’t stop there. Additional rebates are also accessible for all Summit County residents through the regional Energy Smart Colorado initiative. Further still, a generous 30% expansion of a federal tax credit for solar installation has been approved for this year under the 2022-passed Inflation Reduction Act.
In the words of Jessie Burley, the sustainability manager of the Town of Breckenridge, the municipality is striving for complete reliance on renewable electricity by 2035. He stated, “This means we have to aggressively pursue incentives for home and business owners to make the switch. Paired with the Inflation Reduction Act incentives, community members have unprecedented support to go solar.”
The Solarize Summit program has seen considerable uptake since its inception in 2019. Nearly 200 homeowners across the county have availed of the program, leading to a collective installation of 1.5 megawatts of solar power on their properties. The conservation center estimates that electricity use contributes to 32% of overall greenhouse gas emissions in the county, underscoring the significance of initiatives like these.
The window for rebate eligibility through the Solarize Summit program closes on May 31. Prospective participants are required to sign up for a free solar site assessment before this date. For those interested in learning more about the program, an informational session will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 15, from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Summit County Community and Senior Center, located at 83 Nancy’s Place, Frisco.
