May 6th – Community Solar Forum in Denver

     The Solar Gardens Institute, CRES, and COSEIA present Implementing Solar Gardens, Friday May 6^th from 11-3.   CRES Headquarters in the Habitat for Humanity building, 3245 Elliot Street in Denver.

     Community representatives, solar developers, and anyone interested in the topic of community solar are welcome.   This will be fairly close to the release of the proposed program rules from XCEL Energy. 

     Free – donations eagerly accepted.  Please RSVP to joy@solargardens.org so we can get an accurate head count.

     Jerry Marizza of United Power will relate his experience with developing the Sol Partners Cooperative Solar Farm near Brighton, Colorado’s first community solar project.  The first phase of the 20-kilowatt utility owned project was constructed in 2008.

     Tim Rehder of the EPA will discuss community solar developments on brownfields and parking lots.  There are eligible sites throughout Colorado.

     Joy Hughes, SGI founder, will speak on “Solar For Everyone” What will it take to develop a finance structure for solar ownership by middle and low income subscribers?  Joy will describe a model for community solar that allows subscribers to pay up front or over time, combining community and third party ownership - affectionately called "C3PO".

     Greg Ching of the Solar Gardens Institute and Nederland Renewable Energy project will present on "Hosting Services for Developers"

     We will have an open meeting and discussion of the new rules and the next steps for working together to make Colorado’s solar gardens program a success!