Community Solar

Benefit from clean renewable energy, produced locally right here in Northern Colorado.

community solar farm

Our Place, Your Power

Instead of going through the hassle of putting solar on your roof, including the large upfront costs often necessary, be part of your co-op’s community solar farm. Get energy produced by your community solar subscription credited to your monthly bill.

Off-set some or all of your carbon footprint while helping us transition to a cleaner energy tomorrow.

Your membership in community solar is affordable, easy, and convenient.

How You Subscribe to Community Solar

If you are interested, here is how you can request to join our community solar program.

We’ll help you determine how much community solar you should subscribe to, estimate your monthly subscription cost, and explore how low-to-moderate income (LMI) qualified members may subscribe to up to 30% of their annual electric usage (kWh).

  • Calculate Your Solar Needs

    First things first, you need to know how much energy (kWh) you consume, on average, each year. Then determine how much of that energy you would like to supplement or offset with your community solar subscription.

    Your community solar subscription can be sized up to 120% of your annual energy usage, or 25 kW per account, whichever is less.

    How to Determine Your Annual Energy Use

    • Log into your PVREA account.
    • On the left-hand side menu, click ‘Usage’.
    • Then click ‘Usage Explore’.
    • On the right side, click the ‘OR’ option and type in your most recent 12 months of energy usage.
      • Example: If your last bill was June 2026 and it is now July 2026, pull data from June 2025 to May 2026.
    • Scroll down past the graph.
    • On the bottom left-hand side you will see your ‘Total’ energy (kWh) usage.
    • You now have your Total Annual Energy Use!

    How to Determine How Much Energy to Supplement / Offset

    • Divide your Total Annual Energy Use by 1,137.
      • 1,137 is the anticipated yearly kWh output of each individual solar panel.
    • Then, multiply by the percentage of energy usage you wish to offset with community solar.
      • Example: 120% energy offset = 1.20.
      • Example: 100% energy offset = 1.00.
      • Example: 50% energy offset = 0.50.
    • You now know how many individual panels you should subscribe to.

    Formula: ([Annual kWh usage] ÷ [1,137]) X [% of Energy Supplement/Offset] = # of Panels

    How to Determine Your Monthly Subscription Cost

    The cost per panel is $5.68 per month.

    In order to participate in community solar, you must subscribe to a minimum of two panels and a maximum of 40 panels, for income-qualified community solar the minimum is 2 panels and maximum is 8 panels. Your monthly community solar subscription fee is included on your bill statement.

    All PVREA members pay the monthly facilities charge.

    Formula: [# of Panels] X $5.68 = Your Estimated Monthly Community Solar Subscription Cost

    Example: Member John Doe used a total of 11,844 kWh in the last 12 months and wants to subscribe enough solar panels to offset his energy use 100%. Using these numbers, we can determine that John needs 10 panels to meet his needs. His monthly cost then would be $56.80 for the 10 panels.

  • Community Solar Calculator

    We’ve created a handy calculator to help determine how many solar panels you’d need to offset your desired percentage of your monthly bill.

    How To Use Our Calculator

    Total each month’s kilowatt-hour (kWh) usage for a full calendar year (most recent 12 full months) to figure out your annual energy usage. Your monthly kWh usage is found on your electric bill or in SmartHub.

    Once you have this number, add it and your desired energy offset in the fields below.

    Example: Member John Doe used a total of 11,844 kWh in the last 12 months and wants to subscribe enough solar panels to offset his energy use 100%. Using these numbers, we can determine that John needs 10 panels to meet his needs. His monthly cost then would be $56.80 for the 10 panels.

     

  • Subscribe To The Program

    Once you’re ready, fill out the online form below to request enrollment.

    In the application, you will include your desired number of subscribed community solar panels.

    We will then review your application and confirm your enrollment.

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  • LMI Renewable Energy Access Program

    PVREA has partnered with Energy Outreach Colorado to provide access to community solar energy to all PVREA residential members regardless of income.

    With our PV for All community solar program, low-to-moderate income (LMI) qualified members can subscribe up to 30% of their annual electric usage (kWh).

    Income guidelines vary by county and the number of people in the household. LMI available subscriptions are available on a first come, first serve basis, and quantity is limited.

    Subscription Size: Income-qualified members may subscribe to multiple PV for All community solar panels but may not exceed either 5 kW of total final power production or 30% of their annual electric usage (kWh), whichever is less. Each PV for All community solar subscription has a 2 panel minimum and 8 panel maximum.

    Contact Energy Outreach Colorado to see if you qualify and to apply for the program.

    LMI Qualified Members Apply Here Stroke 1
Solar Panels

12,956

Solar Panels

Mega-watts (MW)

4.6

Mega-watts (MW)

Average Homes Powered Annually

950

Average Homes Powered Annually

Acres of Land

27

Acres of Land

Solar panels in the foreground with a suburban neighborhood and mountains in soft focus behind.

Two Rivers Community Solar

Our newest community solar array, Two Rivers Community Solar, is open for subscription requests!

Located near Greeley, this 2.5 MW solar production sites uses over 4,000 panels to follow the sun from east to west.

About 550 PVREA members subscribe to the output from this facility.

If you’d like to subscribe to this community solar farm, please submit your subscription request by clicking the button below.

 

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Highland Community Solar

Highlands Community Solar

This 100 kW community solar farm is located at our headquarters.

Constructed in August 2012, this was the first community solar farm in Northern Colorado!

Nearly 500 solar panels generate 203,000 kWh per year.

Our members purchase energy from the array to supplement and offset their energy use with clean, local solar energy.

Aerial View of Willox Community Solar Farm

Willox Community Solar Farm

This 500 kW community solar farm is located on the north side of Fort Collins, CO.

The Willox Community Solar Farm was constructed in 2014 and was our second community solar project.

The solar farm is fully subscribed with a total of 2,206 panels that generate more than 814,000 kWh per year.

Coyote Ridge community solar farm

Coyote Ridge Community Solar Farm

This 1.5 MW community solar farm is located on the west side of Fort Collins.

The site was chosen to use an area currently in the reclamation process at the Larimer County Landfill.

Your array was built by 300+ volunteers including members and PVREA employees who worked nearly 3,200 hours.

Pollinator-friendly plants grow beneath our panels, planted there by PVREA employees, the CSU Extension, and area high school students.

This site generates nearly 2.9 million kWh a year, powering nearly 300 homes.

Community Solar FAQs

  • What are the benefits of community solar?

    It’s for Everyone

    Shaded roof, live in an apartment, or other obstacle to rooftop solar? Community solar allows our members to participate in renewable energy, regardless of the set-up of their home or where they live. It’s perfect for renters who want solar energy.

    It’s Flexible & Affordable

    Our members came together to build one large central project to help reduce installation costs. The sizing is flexible, so you choose your level of interest to fit your budget. There’s no obligation so you can opt out at any time. You can save money throughout the life of the program.

    It’s Easy

    There’s no hassling with maintenance as we take care of that. There’s no equipment at your home or business. You see the credits and savings right on your electric bill.

    It’s Local

    Your panels are located right in our community. This project was built by your fellow co-op members, neighbors, and other community partners.

  • What does my subscription get me?

    When you enroll, it means you are getting a portion of the output of the solar energy the local community solar farm produces.

    Get energy produced by your community solar subscription credited to your monthly bill.

  • What if I rent?

    Anyone who pays their own electric bill to PVREA can participate in this program, regardless of housing. Renters, homeowners, and people who live in apartments, houses, condos, mobile homes, etc. who live within our service territory can qualify.

  • How long is my subscription for?

    The term of our community solar program is 20 years. Your subscription will automatically renew

  • What happens to my subscription if I move?

    If you move within our service territory and are just transferring your account, your subscription will move with you. If you are leaving our co-op family, your subscription will automatically end with your stop service request.

family in front of wind turbines

Green Power Program

Our easiest, most convenient way to go green.

Our Green Power Program allows you to support renewable energy generated directly from your monthly bill. Simply opt in to our program and begin your investment in sustainable power.

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power lines and mountains

Our Power Portfolio

Local renewable production is an important part of our power portfolio.

We have three total community solar farms that provide clean, renewable energy for members. We also produce carbon-free energy from three utility-scale solar facilities and one hydroelectric facility located right here in our service territory.

Learn how we maintain a reliable source of electricity through balanced resources and cooperative partnerships.

Where Your Power Comes From Stroke 1
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