Interconnection Standards

Amendment 37, passed in November 2004, created a renewables portfolio standard (RPS) that applies to all of the state's utilities. Discussions pertaining to the implementation of Amendment 37 are under way. It is expected that the new law will lead to changes in the way Colorado utilities address interconnection to the grid by small generators. Although Colorado currently does not have statewide interconnection or net metering rules, several of the state's utilities have net-metering rules with corresponding interconnection procedures or standards.  
 
Legislation enacted in 2002 clarifies the interconnection and metering requirements for electric cooperatives in the state. According to this legislation, standby and interconnection charges are specifically authorized, and customers must pay all costs for additional metering. Safety equipment includes a requirement for an external disconnect switch. Customer equipment must meet IEEE, UL and NEC requirements, and any other applicable regulations or standards. Cooperative utilities must approve every eligible interconnection. The law does not mandate net metering; rather, it allows utilities to offer net metering. For more information contact the Colorado Public Utilities Commission.

Xcel Energy - Interconnection Standards

Xcel’s net metering policy covers systems with a maximum capacity of 10 kW. Customers must complete the utility's "Net Metered Generation Interconnection Agreement" to participate in the program. The specifics of the program are covered in Xcel's "Small Power Production and Cogeneration Facility Policy," which is part of Xcel’s complete retail energy tariff. This section of the tariff on small power covers rules and rates for systems up to 10 kW and for systems
10-100 kW.  

Xcel's tariff specifies that system owners must pay Xcel for reviews or inspections that require more than four hours. Furthermore, Xcel specifies that system owners must pay for any increase in Xcel’s income taxes as a result of any reimbursements paid to the company for interconnection review or installation costs.  
 
While the tariff addresses interconnection rules in general, Xcel also has developed a complete set of interconnection rules ("Safety, Interference, and Interconnection Guidelines for Cogenerators, Small Power Producers and Customer-Owned Generators") for all customer-owned generation. This 1997 document is available in hard-copy format from Xcel. These rules apply to both net-metered and non-net-metered systems.

Also note that Xcel’s interconnection rules are administered at the local level and can vary greatly. Many customers have experienced insurance requirements that can be a barrier to a renewable energy project.

Contact http://www.xcelenergy.com for more information.

Renewable Energy Requirement

Amendment 37 (passed on November 2, 2004), includes the renewables portfolio standard (RPS). This was the first time in the nation’s history that an RPS was put directly before voters rather than processed through a state’s legislature. As stated above, the initiative requires Colorado utilities with 40,000 or more customers to generate or purchase a percentage of their electricity from renewable sources according to the following schedule:

• 3% from 2007 through 2010 
• 6% from 2011 through 2014
• 10% by 2015 and thereafter

Of the electricity generated each year from renewable sources, at least 4% must come from solar technologies. At least one-half of this percentage must come from solar systems located on-site at customers’ facilities. Other eligible technologies include wind, geothermal heat, biomass facilities that burn nontoxic plants, landfill gas, animal waste, small hydroelectric, and hydrogen fuel cells. Energy generated in Colorado is favored; each kWh of renewable electricity generated in-state will be counted as 1.25 kWh for the purposes of meeting this standard.  
 
Tradable renewable energy credits may be used to satisfy the standard. Utilities that do not generate the required amount of electricity from renewable energy sources are allowed to purchase “credits” from those utilities that exceed the requirement. For more information contact the Western Resource Advocates.

Fort Collins - Electric Energy Supply Policy

Wind Working Group and Anemometer Loan Program

Visit the Office of Energy Management & Conservation for more information on these two programs.

The Department of Energy's Wind Program and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recently published a new wind resource map for the state of Colorado. This resource map shows wind speed estimates at 50 meters above the ground and depicts the resource that could be used for utility-scale wind development. Future plans are to provide wind speed estimates at 30 meters, which are useful for identifying small wind turbine opportunities.

The US Department of Energy has produced wind resource maps for each state. The map for Colorado can be found here. You may also find the definitions of Wind Power Classes for the maps helpful.

The US Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network has also collected wind resource data for Colorado.

The web site for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) also contains useful information.

The US Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy has published a Small Wind Consumer's Guide for Colorado ( PDF 1.6 MB).

An electronic copy of the U.S. Department of Energy's Consumer's Guide to Small Wind Electric Systems in Colorado(PDF file), as well as a general US Consumer’s Guide, is available at the Wind Powering America web site.

The Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy (DSIRE) is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and selected federal incentives that promote renewable energy. Another item of interest is the Interstate Renewable Energy Council’s web site on wind energy projects and wind energy events/news occurring through out the country.

The American Wind Energy Association provides a list of wind turbine manufacturers
For a list of wind turbine installers in your area, please contact the manufacturers.

Source Guides offer a list of renewable energy companies in each state. To see companies in CO, visit their website.

For more information on Colorado Utilities contact the Public Utilities Commission. The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has full economic and quality of service regulatory authority over intrastate telecommunication services; and investor-owned electric, gas and water utilities, as well as partial regulatory control over municipal utilities and electric associations.

The US Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network maintains a list of state contacts.

The Colorado Office of Energy Management and Conservation (OEMC)
maintains a Web site that contains local wind energy links, media coverage, and information on state programs.

The Colorado Renewable Energy Society

ColoradoENERGY.org

This is a one-stop shop for energy efficiency and renewable energy information in Colorado.  You will find how-to's, information about green building, energy-efficient applications, wind power in Colorado, government actions, new technologies, and important events. Visit http://coloradoenergy.org/.

Create by the Western Resource Advocates

Formerly the Land and Water Fund of the Rockies, this is a community-based education and outreach campaign to raise awareness among citizens and businesses of the environmental impacts of electricity use and encourage a more sustainable alternative, wind power. The goal is to create an informed base of consumers that, by their support for clean energy resources, reduce environmental impacts of electricity use and encourage utilities to invest in renewable energy. For a comprehensive review of the Grassroots Campaign, see "The Grassroots are Greener: A Community-Based Approach to Marketing Green Power," a research report written by Rudd Mayer (LAW Fund), Eric Blank (LAW Fund) and Blair Swezey (NREL), published by the Renewable Energy Policy Project in July, 1999. For more general information visit, http://www.cogreenpower.org/

SMALL WIND FAQ | AWEA HOME PAGE | SMALL WIND HOME PAGE

© 2006  by the American Wind Energy Association.
All rights reserved