Solar Power Purchase Program#
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.
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) | Start Date | 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 | June 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 |
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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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