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County puts solar district on hold
Official says other options are emerging
Herald Staff Writer
This spring, local company CarbonZero pitched a plan to county commissioners that would take advantage of state legislation, passed last year, that allows for the formation of special districts to collect taxes for installing solar or other renewable-energy systems on homes and businesses.
Residents are taxed only if they opt into the district. The idea is to eliminate the hefty upfront cost of going solar. La Plata County would have collected the taxes, while CarbonZero proposed doing the rest.
Boulder County was the first Colorado county to form such a program, and last month, voters in Pitkin, Eagle and Gunnison counties all approved similar programs.
But La Plata County officials this week said they're taking a wait-and-see approach.
“Boulder was the first one that did it," County Manager Shawn Nau said. “They ended up with a whole lot more administrative costs than they expected."
He said other possible means to the same end are coming together, and the county wants to see how those shape up. They include strictly private ventures that provide the financing and proposed legislation that would allow for a statewide district that would do the same thing as the county-based districts.
Andrew Klotz, CEO of CarbonZero, remains optimistic that some variation of the company's proposal will succeed.
“We'll wait and see. I don't think it's over yet," he said. “People's interest in alternate energy is going to remain strong."
The company has applied for a state grant that would allow it to install solar power systems on 20 houses, “which would be kind of proof of concept for us," Klotz said.
He said hundreds of people have signed up to receive solar systems through the company.
“The interest is really strong," he said.
Under CarbonZero's plan, home and business owners that opted into the district would see a tax appear on their bill similar to other levies to cover the cost of leasing a solar system, which would be owned by CarbonZero.
If a homeowner for any reason decided to get rid of the system, CarbonZero would uninstall it, and the homeowner no longer would pay the tax. At the end of the lease period, about 15 to 20 years, homeowners would have the option to buy.
The plan sought to bring solar to the masses by eliminating the $20,000 to $40,000 upfront cost consumers face today.
In the end, residents in the program would pay about what they do now for electricity but with the advantage of it being from a wholly renewable source.
The county supports the goal but does not want to fall prey to unforeseen liabilities that could cost taxpayers.
“I think at this point we were waiting to see how some of these other things progress," Nau said.
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Durango Herald Calendar of Events
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
at 10:55:27 PM
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observer says...
Matt, what are the clear and far-reaching benefits of solar electric systems in La Plata County and why is it beneficial for the taxpayer to subsidize such installations? Why is it not cost effective on a dollar/watt basis to install solar electric panels on homes without government subsidy? What is the payback to the taxpayer to subsidize such installations? I would like to hear your opinions on these questions.
I think NL has the right idea. Solar thermal is a far more cost effective way to harvest the power of the sun than solar electric, if subsidies are ignored.
Perhaps politicians moving money from some people's pockets into others is a good way to save the world, but somehow, when it comes to efficiency, productivity, and common sense, I lean more towards free market and less towards government in the ability to accomplish these goals.
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
at 5:15:47 PM
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Just Plain Funny says...
My question in this may be somewhat unrelated but what happened to the vacated solar panels plan with the rec center? There are millions of dollars in solar panels just sitting atop the rec center that are worthless because the city of Durango got taken for a ride by an out-of-town solar power company. Any budget decision made by the City of Durango makes me cringe because one day they lay off dozens of employees but the next day they needlessly re-pave 32nd St and continue to waste solar panels on the rec center. lets figure that debacle out before the city shoots itself in the foot AGAIN (hint hint Ron LeBlanc).
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
at 9:33:23 AM
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MATT says...
@NL:
People that think ANY government involvement in ANYTHING is somehow evil and wrong are the problem. The government subsidizes all kinds of R&D and new technologies, so why not when it comes to solar in Laplata county? Especially when the benefits are clear and far reaching?
When you employ your politics to come to conclusions about pratical realities, you will always come to conclusions that promote your politics, but NOT the general welfare. This isn't about right vs. left, as much as the anti green technology crowd would have you believe.
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
at 9:19:13 AM
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Henry says...
Why should the county be involved in this at all? If the strong interest is already out there let private citizens seek out their own solutions. The county officials behind this make a good point about the extra administrative costs incurred by adding middle men (gov't in this case). LPEA offers green tags (sends your money to green energy producers) for less than $1 per 100kw if you want to buy renewable energy. I buy all my electricity with green tags for a few bucks extra a month. Most of that energy is wind or local small hydro plants. Why isn't it produced by photoelectric solar panels? Simple, photoelectric panels are one of the most expensive alternative energy sources on the market today. If you want to install something in your own home try passive solar for your hot water. It is much cheaper than Photoelectric panels, very efficient and can put a big dent in your energy bills. If you are a do-it-yourself person do an internet search on building your own wind generator. They can be made for a lot less than you might think.
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
at 8:50:05 AM
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PbFred says...
I agree with Matt.
"...hundreds of people have signed up to receive solar systems through the company". The interest is really strong."
Let's "wait and see" what problems other counties encounter rather than giving the pilot program the opportunity for us to make this work on our own terms.
It's not like we live in a sunny part of country..
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
at 8:03:54 AM
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MATT says...
If public interest in this program is so high, why is the county putting it on hold? Some paranoid, delusional fear of "taxation"? What is worse than taxation? Many things! Sending MANY BILLIONS every year to foreign oil producers. Weakened national security. Fewer jobs for American citizens. But oh yes, lets all focus on "taxation". (rolls eyes)