City Profiles / Medium Cities / Arvada, CO

Arvada, Colorado

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Arvada is constructing solar energy capacity at its water treatment plant in partnership with SunEdison, and will be the first city in Colorado to have a system of this size run on solar power. Solar power from 3,300 panels is expected to provide 88 percent of the plant's energy needs, which are currently supplied almost entirely by coal. The solar system, which will be owned and operated by SunEdison, will eliminate 39.5 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions over 20 years and will save $10,000 to $15,000 the first year. The upfront costs will be paid back through a combination of rates paid by the city, federal tax credits and renewable energy credits from the utility, Xcel Energy.