Solar Benefits Colorado

About the Program

Category: County Resiliency (Best in Category)

Year: 2016

In the fall of 2015, Boulder County in collaboration with other local governments launched a pooled purchase program, Solar Benefits Colorado, to make purchasing or leasing rooftop solar and electric vehicles (EVs) simple and affordable for residents in our communities. Through public-private partnerships, Solar Benefits Colorado was the first of its kind solar and electric vehicle group procurement (bulk-buy) program in the United States. By ‘pooling’ the buying power of residents, the program secured lower up front pricing and included highly-attractive financing options to help residents decide if solar and/or an electric vehicle was a good fit for their lifestyle. In exchange for local governments’ commitment to market the program, the competitively-selected private companies, Sunrun, Custom Solar, and Boulder Nissan, offered discounts on rooftop solar and electric vehicles. Boulder County succeeded in accelerating the adoption of solar and electric vehicles through collaboration with non-profit Vote Solar and multiple municipalities and organizations across the Colorado Front Range.