Solar Energy

The Town of Mountain Village is seeking ways to encourage solar energy use in our community. This webpage represents a collection of solar information and resources for the community. Our community’s renewable energy goals can be found in our Climate Action Plan and Alternative Energy webpage. For more information about the basics of solar energy, your solar options, and questions to ask solar professionals, read the Residential Consumer Guide to Solar Power and visit the Department of Energy’s Homeowner’s Guide to Going Solar.

Mountain Village is working to become a SolSmart designated community by implementing best practices to make it easier for residents and businesses to install and access solar energy. SolSmart is a national program funded by the U.S. Department of Energy that has helped hundreds of local governments become “open for solar business.” Learn more about the program here.

Solar Energy in Mountain Village

The Town and its Planning and Building Departments are committed to exceptional customer services as it relates to solar processes. To promote the continued advancement of solar in our community we are committed to the following:

Providing clear guidelines about the solar permitting and inspection process in our solar checklist within the Building Division Plan Submittal and Inspection Information, both of which can be found on our Building Department's webpage.
Using a solar specific permit application
Processing small rooftop solar PV permits with complete and accurate applications in three business days
Offering inspection appointment times for solar projects

The Town of Mountain Village is the sole Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) within Mountain Village. The Town uses the 2018 International Codes with the exception of the 2020 National Electrical Code and 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), International Plumbing Code (IPC) and International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC). Please refer to the Town’s Building Division webpage for additional information regarding applicable codes.

For information on zoning, please refer to the Town’s Municipal Code sections 17.5.6 and 17.3.3.

Mountain Village is committed to ensuring equitable access to solar for our community. The Town offers rebates for residential homes to install solar arrays through the Solar Energy Incentive Program.

San Miguel Power Association (SMPA), a non-profit electric distribution cooperative, is the sole electricity provider to the Telluride Region. In addition to Mountain Village’s Solar Energy Incentive Program, SMPA offers net metering as well as rebates for commercial and residential renewable energy systems.

SMPA's Net Metering and Rebate: Impact to Your Energy Bill

San Miguel Power Association (SMPA) is available to answer questions about solar energy, your electricity bill, and net metering requirements for solar connection to SMPA. More information about net metering can be found at this link: https://www.smpa.com/net-metering

Additionally, SMPA currently offers a rebate of $0.10 per watt up to $300. More information on the rebate can be found at this link: Renewable Rebates | San Miguel Power Association, Inc. (smpa.com)

Contact SMPA at

Local Solar Projects

Municipal Solar

Starting in 2013, the Town installed solar arrays at three gondola stations to provide on-site solar supply for its free, public transit gondola system. The Town also has solar on its municipal water tanks and maintenance shop. In 2024, solar was installed on two community housing buildings within the Town’s affordable and low-income workforce housing complex.

In 2023, 32% of the green power supply purchases made by the Town of Mountain Village came from solar.

Wastewater Treatment Plant

In 2011, 480 solar photovoltaic (PV) panels were installed at the regional wastewater treatment plan to help generate the electricity needed for its operation. This local solar energy system produces 100 kilowatt hours, or about 160,000 kilowatt hours per year, of electricity for the facility that serves the Town of Mountain Village, the Town of Telluride and San Miguel County. The 235-watt solar PV panels supply approximately 10 percent of the water treatment facility’s energy.

Finding a Contractor and Going Solar

Find a solar contractor(s) to assess your home or business for solar energy and provide a quote.

Town of Mountain Village’s approved, licensed contractors list
Certified practitioners can be found through NABCEP.
Visit EnergySage to learn about solar energy and submit for solar quotes from a network of pre-screened, local solar installers.
Solar Customer Resource Portal – various resources from SEIA, the Solar Energy Industries Association.
Solar Owner’s Manual – information for current solar homeowners to ensure they are getting the most out of their system from Solar United Neighbors.

Solar Maps and Potential

Investigate your property’s solar potential by clicking here. You can also estimate the performance of potential PV projects using the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s PVWatts Calculator.

You can also contact a local solar installer using the Town’s approved, licensed contractors list.

Annual Solar Installations in Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)

Financing, Incentives, and Tax Exemptions

Typically, solar installations are paid for through loans, upfront payments, or a power purchase agreement (PPA).

A Homeowner’s Guide to Solar Financing is a resource from the Clean Energy States Alliance that provides an overview of the different financing options.

State and local incentives

The Town of Mountain Village offers rebates for residential solar installations.
San Miguel Power Association offers rebates for commercial and residential solar installations.
The Colorado Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) supports homes and businesses in their transition to clean energy.
Information about state incentives can be found in this database maintained by the North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center.
Many new state programs are expected to be announced in 2025 as a result of federal funding. Stay tuned for announcements from your state!

Federal Incentives

Many new incentives and funding opportunities are available for solar and other clean energy technologies.

A great place for residents to start identifying the federal incentives for which they are eligible is this calculator from Rewiring America. The rebates and incentives available through the federal Inflation Reduction Act can vary depending on your location and income.
Additional details about benefits in the Inflation Reduction Act can be found on the White House’s website or the Department of Energy website.
The Federal Investment Tax Credit for residential solar continues to be one of the most significant ways to reduce the cost of your solar PV system. Learn more about the federal tax credit, eligibility, and other common questions & answers in the Homeowner’s Guide to the Federal Tax Credit for Solar Photovoltaics from the U.S. Department of Energy.
Businesses should refer to the Federal Solar Tax Credits for Businesses.
Some solar projects will be eligible for bonus credits on top of the 30% Investment Tax Credit. The Inflation Reduction Act provides up to 20% in bonus credits for qualified solar or wind facilities developed in low-income communities; up to 10% bonus for projects located in “energy communities” that have a historic fossil-fuel economy, high unemployment or are developing solar on a brownfield; and 10% domestic content bonus for projects using the required amounts of U.S.-produced steel, iron and manufactured products.
Tax-exempt organizations, including non-profit organizations, schools, and government entities, can now take advantage of the federal tax credit through “elective pay” (sometimes referred to as “direct pay.”) An overview of elective pay and Frequently Asked Questions are available from the IRS.

More Useful Solar Information

Learn about SMPA’s Totally Green program.
Learn more about Solar In Colorado

Solar Energy

More Useful Solar Information

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