CEC's community solar capacity grows to 7.9 MW in Colo., accessibility exceeds 75% of state's ratepayers.

BOULDER, COLO. – (May 29, 2014) Clean Energy Collective (CEC), that nation's leading community-owned solar developer, announced the groundbreaking of four new community solar facilities in Denver that will make an additional 1.7 MW of local renewable energy production available to Xcel Energy customers in Denver and Jefferson counties.

Part of Xcel Energy's Solar*Rewards Communities program, two new 500 kW community-shared solar PV systems are under construction on a 5-acre site at the Evie Garrett Dennis School campus in northeast Denver, and just to the west a 569 kW and 115 kW systems are in developed on a 4-acre site in Golden, Colo.

This brings to nine the number of community solar facilities CEC has operating or under construction in partnership with Xcel Energy, including facilities in Denver, Aurora, Boulder, and Breckenridge (2), and a total of 16 facilities for the state. More than 75% of ratepayers in Colorado now have access to community solar.

Xcel Energy's business and residential ratepayers in Denver County and Jefferson County will be able to purchase individual panels in the new arrays, from one kilowatt up to enough panels to off-set 120% of their electric usage. Customers will then receive credit for the energy produced directly on their monthly Xcel Energy bill, as if the PV system were located on their home or business.

"We're really excited about developing these four new facilities for Denver. Never before has the opportunity to use local clean energy been available to so many people so easily," said Paul Spencer, founder and CEO of Clean Energy Collective. "Affordable and accessible solar is an important part of our energy future, and it's exciting to see Colorado leading the nation in community-based renewable energy solutions."

CEC's community-owned solar model allows 100% of a utility's ratepayers—including businesses, renters, those with shaded properties, and people of all income levels—the opportunity to own clean, locally-produced energy. Members receive rebates and incentives just like home-sited systems, and the arrays are sited and maintained to operate at peak efficiency, delivering clean, dependable power for decades.

David Eves, president and CEO of Public Service Co. of Colorado, an Xcel Energy company, lauded the projects. "Solar*Rewards Community and Clean Energy Collective projects such as the ones we celebrate today offer Xcel Energy customers a choice in solar products that will help them reduce their impact on the environment."

Customers in the new projects will pay $3.70 per Watt after available rebates and tax incentives. Refundable panel reservations are being taken now. More information is available online at www.coloradocommunitysolar.com or by contacting CEC at info@coloradocommunitysolar.com or
(800) 646-0323.

The combined facilities are expected to produce approximately 2,828,000 kilowatt-hours of clean energy in the first year alone, enough to power 2,500 homes annually. Over the 20 year Xcel Energy agreement, CO2 omissions will be reduced by over 92 million pounds.

About Clean Energy Collective

Clean Energy Collective (CEC) is the nation's leading developer of community solar solutions. CEC pioneered the model of delivering clean power-generation through large-scale facilities that are collectively owned by participating utility customers. Since establishing the first community-owned solar garden in the country in 2010 near El Jebel, Colorado, CEC has built or has under development more than 40 community solar projects with 18 utility partners across 8 states, representing 26 MW of community solar capacity. www.easycleanenergy.com