August 2020

Holy smoke! How to keep indoor air healthy and cool.

The heat just keeps on coming this summer – and now it’s served with a side helping of wildfire smoke. For many of us, that poses an extra challenge of maintaining indoor air quality while trying to keep our homes cool.

Here are some tips for coping...

New ReEnergize program funds clean energy for economic recovery

These past few months during the pandemic, it’s been inspiring to see individuals and organizations stepping up to help. We’re all doing what we can with what we have, where we are.
 

In that spirit, Garfield Clean Energy is launching ReEnergize, a new program designed to help struggling households and businesses – and to boost the local economy – through efficiency and clean energy. As a short-term stimulus, ReEnergize will make extra funding available to reduce the costs of home energy assessments and business efficiency upgrades. Read more...

Rooftop vs. community solar: which is right for you?

Solar power is no longer just for the wealthy. Many households can actually save money by going solar nowadays, thanks to steadily falling prices. So increasingly, the question is no longer whether to go solar, but how: rooftop or community solar?
 
Here in western Colorado, we’re fortunate to have the choice. But which way to go will depend on a number of factors, and it’s worth doing your homework to make sure you choose the one that’s best for your situation. Read more...
 

Local officials tout solar’s power to diversify economy

Last month a group of state legislators and industry leaders took a tour of economically significant sites in Garfield County, starting with a presentation by GCE at the large solar installation at the Rifle Wastewater Treatment Plant.
 
State Rep. Perry Will, who hosted the tour, said the solar array was included to highlight the increasing amount of solar energy in the county and the region’s leadership in using clean energy as an economic development strategy. More…
 

New charging stations make EV road trips a breeze

Not so long ago, you’d be out of luck if you wanted to explore the Western Slope in an electric vehicle.
 
Now, venturing beyond the I-70 corridor need no longer produce range anxiety, thanks to the growing number of charging stations along the state highways that cover most of our sprawling region. Come with us on a EV road trip of our scenic backyard…
 

Holy Cross lowers solar rebates, adds storage rebates

As renewable energy gains market share, grid storage becomes more important to balance electrical loads. Holy Cross’s new solar incentives structure reflects this evolution.
 
Effective Sept. 1, the utility is reducing its rebates on solar systems by 25-33%, depending on the size of the system. Meanwhile, it has added a new incentive: $250 per kW of energy storage, up to 25 kW. Full details...