The Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) recently approved a solar energy purchasing agreement between Xcel Energy and SunE Alamosa1 LLC.
The contract, the first of its kind in Colorado under the new renewable energy standards, will provide for the development of an 8 MW solar photovoltaic electric generation facility in Alamosa, Colo. Xcel Energy will purchase the electricity generated by the plant to help it meet the solar requirements of the renewable energy standards adopted by Colorado voters in 2004, which require the state's largest utilities to obtain 3% of their electricity from renewable energy resources by 2007 and 10% by 2015.
In addition, SunE Alamosa1 will take advantage of a 30% federal investment tax credit available for non-utility solar facilities placed into service before Jan. 1, 2008, which will benefit Colorado ratepayers.
