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Solar Power Purchase Program#

Static map of SP# sites around Fort Collins

Click to view interactive map of the SP3 sites around Fort Collins.

Through the Solar Power Purchase Program (SP3), Fort Collins Utilities is buying 100% green solar electricity from 16 operating sites located in Fort Collins. Annually, over 6.5 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) are added to the grid from these solar systems, which is enough to power over 650 average homes with all their annual electricity needs.

View Interactive Map of the Operating Sites

The energy output is contributing to the source mix delivered through the Green Energy Program

Twenty-year contracts between the SP3 system owners and Utilities ensure that Utilities will continue to buy this 100% green solar energy for 20 years - therefore, Fort Collins Utilities and subscribers to the Green Energy Program will benefit for decades to come.

SP3 aligns with our Triple Bottom Line (environmental, economic, social sustainability) by reducing greenhouse gas emissions while improving air quality, supporting local investment and creating jobs/training opportunities for our tradespeople while serving as case study topics for our educational institutions.

SP3 Operating Sites#

Address Name Size (kW-dc) Date COD Cumulative Capacity (kW-dc)
2601 S. Lemay Ave. SP3 Scotch Pines 95.7 January 2014 96
165 Colboard Dr. SP3 RCD Plaza 80 June 2014 176
500 W. Pitkin St. SP3 CSU Braiden Hall 99.9 November 2014 276
600 Buckingham St. SP3 New Belgium Packaging Hall 96 February 2015 372
951 Meridian Ave. SP3 CSU Student Rec Center 530 March 2015 902
701 W. Laurel St. SP3 CSU Parmalee 139 April 2015 1,041
4701 Technology Pkwy. SP3 Intel 963 April 2015 2,004
1400 Remington St. SP3 CSU UCA 99 June 2015 2,103
300 W. Drake Rd. SP3 CSU Vet Teaching Hospital 232 June 2015 2,335
900 W. Pitkin St. SP3 CSU Edwards 93 July 2015 2,428
5080 Fossil Blvd. SP3 FCHA 60 August 2015 2,488
1420 Riverside Ave. SP3 MotherLove Herbals 76 August 2015 2,564
1041 Woodward Way SP3 Woodward 125 August 2015 2,689
1912 Laporte Ave. SP3 Arcadia 971 November 2015 3,660
6422 Kyle Ave. SP3 Kyle Ave 999 November 2019 4,659
1150 Elgin Ct. SP3 Waterglen 210 April 2021

4,869

The Solar Power Purchase Program (SP3) incentivizes the installation of new, local solar systems on commercial customer facilities.

The basis of the SP3 is a fixed-price (non- escalating), 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) between Utilities and system owners for solar generation located on commercial facilities. Commercial customers may enter agreements with solar developers for installation of the systems, which may include financing, lease-purchase and rooftop property leasing.

The energy output of the solar system goes directly to Utilities’ electric grid “in front of the billing meter” and system owners are paid based on their PPA. The agreement does not alter the customer’s electric bill. This arrangement is commonly known within the solar industry as a feed-in-tariff or “FIT” model. The PPAs also convey the Renewable Energy Credits (RECs)—the right to claim the renewable energy attributes of a project—to Utilities to reach community clean energy goals.

The solar projects from this program will help Utilities’ meet its renewable energy goal for 2020. In addition, the locally produced renewable energy supports the community’s Climate Action Plan and Energy Policy greenhouse gas reduction goals while supporting local investment.

City Council authorized funding for the program.


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