Pueblo County is on the Colorado front range in the southern portion of the state and has a population of 159,063 over 2,388 square miles. The County is situated in an excellent area for solar due its above average solar energy resource. Pueblo County yields 1,449 kWh/kW per year, which is more than 10% greater than the national average of 1,200 kWh/kW per year.
Solar Market Potential
In assessing the potential for solar PV installations in Pueblo County, the SSTI team considered statewide renewable energy goals and determined the local deployment necessary to achieve these goals. In Colorado, all utilities must comply with the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), which requires a specified fraction of electric power to be produced by renewable sources. In Colorado, the RPS mandates 30% renewables by 2020.
Local solar project development keeps the economic and environmental benefits in the community. Targeting development of half of that renewable energy production through local/regional solar PV could produce the following impact over the next 5 years in Pueblo County:
| LOCAL IMPACT |
Pueblo County |
All Western Colorado Jurisdictions (16) |
| Solar Viable Residences |
26,741 |
106,876 |
| Residential Potential (kW) |
136,380 |
545,068 |
| Total Market Potential (kW) |
318,518 |
1,654,317 |
| Annual Energy Production (kWh) |
461,533,000 |
2,506,083,000 |
| Equivalent Homes Powered |
48,748 |
264,695 |
| Economic Impact ($) |
$582 million |
$3 billion |
| Workforce Impact (Jobs): |
3,058 |
15,881 |
| Environmental Benefit (acres trees) |
67,845 |
343,099 |
Visit our methods and assumptions page for more information on these estimates.
Local Installation Requirements
For specific information regarding local solar permitting, zoning, net metering or interconnection procedures, contact the appropriate office listed below.
Permitting & Inspection Procedures
The Pueblo Regional Building Department has adopted standardized forms for permitting simple residential PV systems meeting certain criteria. These forms contain standard electrical plans for both string inverter and micro-inverter systems. The forms can be found here.
Permitting and inspection for larger solar PV systems or those not complying with the standard plans currently follow standard permitting procedures.
- Visit Pueblo County’s Planning & Development Department website or call (719) 583-6100 for general information about the County’s solar permitting process
Net Metering & Interconnection Procedures
Black Hills Energy and San Isabel Electric Association (SIEA) are the electricity providers for the County. Solar related information is easily accessible online and direct links are below.
- Visit Black Hills Energy’s Solar Webpage for general information
- Black Hills Energy’s Net Metering Process is available online
- Black Hills Energy’s Interconnection Guidelines are available online
- Black Hills Energy’s solar incentive information can be found by clicking the “Local Solar Financing” button below
- Visit SIEA’s Webpage for general information
- SIEA’s Net Process is available online
- SIEA’s Interconnection Agreement is available online
Local Solar Resources
 |
 |
General Solar Resources
 |
 |
 |
 |
Solar Roadmap
To facilitate efforts to capture the local solar opportunity, the Solar Roadmap team has worked in close coordination with the County to develop a customized, interactive solar roadmap as described and accessible below. This solar roadmap contains specific, actionable steps that can be pursued to improve permitting and inspection processes and develop solar friendly municipal regulations and guidelines.
