Environmental Justice Coalition Secures $1.5 million in Redirected Funds for Renewable Energy Incentives for Low-Income Xcel Energy Customers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 9, 2026
Media Contacts:
Estrella Lozano, Media and Press Associate at Vote Solar, elozano@votesolar.org
Kristen Parker, Communications Director at GRID Alternatives, kparker@gridalternatives.org
Jessica Herrera, Counsel for the EJC, Jessicaherrera@greenlatinos.org
Denver, CO – The Environmental Justice Coalition (EJC), comprised of GRID Alternatives and Vote Solar and represented by GreenLatinos’s legal counsel, has successfully advocated for major improvements to Xcel Energy’s 2026-2027 Renewable Energy Plan, resulting in increased incentives and improved accessibility for income-qualified customers.
On April 7, 2026, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) of Colorado issued its written decision solidifying the January recommendation from the Administrative Law Judge, who recommended that the PUC approve the settlement reached between the EJC, Xcel Colorado, and other stakeholders last November.
A Renewable Energy Plan outlines how utilities will expand renewable energy capacity to meet the state’s goal of 100% renewable energy by 2040. The plan includes incentive programs to encourage residential solar, community solar, battery storage, workforce development, and community engagement. Xcel Colorado submitted its plan to the PUC for approval to ensure transparency, regulatory oversight, and opportunities for stakeholder input.
“We’re pleased with the outcome of this proceeding,” said Jamie Valdez, Colorado Transportation and Energy Advocate with GreenLatinos. “The EJC worked hard to ensure GreenLatinos members and low-income households across Colorado will be able to enjoy the benefits of a just energy transition with reliable, affordable electricity, regardless of their socioeconomic status, and this decision by the PUC advances those goals.”
“Through the settlement, the EJC secured a $1.5 million shift in program funding to strengthen equity participation,” said Jessica Herrera, counsel for the EJC. “This reallocation of funds advances the equity and access priorities established under Senate Bill 21-272 by increasing incentive levels and expanding access to solar and battery storage programs for income-qualified and disproportionately impacted communities.”
The EJC’s intervention in the proceedings has led to several key provisions aimed at promoting equitable access to renewable energy:
– Increased Solar*Rewards Residential Incentive: The incentive for income-qualified/disproportionately impacted community customers has been raised to $3 per watt, up from the initially proposed $2 per watt.
– Enhanced Renewable Battery Connect Incentive: The incentive for income-qualified customers has been increased to $1,000 per kilowatt, up from $800 per kilowatt.
– Community Solar Capacity Roll-Over: More than 200 MW of capacity from the previous plan will be rolled over into the new Inclusive Community Solar program, and frontloaded to enhance developers’ ability to secure the Investment Tax Credit.
– Spanish Language Accessibility: Key program webpages, the Solar*Rewards Income Qualification Verification Form, and associated marketing and educational materials will be provided in Spanish to better serve the one in ten Colorado households that speak Spanish.
– Outreach and Engagement Effectiveness Data Collection: Xcel Energy will collect data to assess the effectiveness of its outreach and engagement efforts in enrolling income-qualified and disproportionately impacted community members into its programs.
“Stakeholders involved in shaping the Renewable Energy Plan brought forward bold, community-centered ideas to ensure the benefits of clean and affordable energy, like solar, reach everyone,” says Claudine Custodio, Regulatory Director for Vote Solar. “We are proud to have reached a compromise that advances programs designed to lower energy bills and deliver meaningful, long-term savings for families struggling with rising utility costs.”
These provisions are designed to ensure that the benefits of renewable energy are accessible to all customers, particularly those in low-income and disproportionately impacted communities. The EJC’s advocacy underscores the importance of equitable participation in the clean energy transition.
“We’re grateful that all parties remain committed to distributing the benefits of renewable energy, particularly to income-qualified households and customers who have been struggling to realize those benefits,” says Daniel Pontón Aronoff, Interior West Policy Manager for GRID Alternatives. “The EJC worked hard to come to a Settlement Agreement that upholds that commitment, and we’re pleased that the Commission has recognized that effort.”
The Environmental Justice Coalition is a partnership between GreenLatinos, GRID Alternatives, and Vote Solar, dedicated to advancing equitable access to renewable energy and advocating for policies that address environmental and social justice issues.
GreenLatinos is a national nonprofit organization that convenes a broad coalition of Latino leaders committed to addressing environmental, natural resources, and conservation issues that significantly affect the health and welfare of the Latino community. GreenLatinos engages in this advocacy at the national, regional, and local levels. It strives to amplify the voices of minority, low-income, and tribal communities and to advance health equity, environmental justice, and community resilience. Environmental justice, clean energy and transportation, clean air, and climate change are among the organization’s core priorities.
GRID Alternatives is an international, U.S.-based 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that builds community-powered solutions to advance economic and environmental justice through renewable energy. GRID works in the U.S., Mexico, Nepal, and Nicaragua and has installed solar photovoltaic systems on more than 29,500 homes and affordable housing developments in underserved communities while providing more than 33,200 individuals with workforce development training. GRID also provides clean mobility solutions and battery storage and is a leading voice in low-income solar policy development in the U.S. Installation Basics Training (IBT), a competency-based certificate program designed to develop the skills most relevant to entry-level solar installation jobs and related construction employment fields. Trainees learn solar installation skills, OSHA 10 safety standards, first aid and CPR, and soft skills, including interpersonal communication and dependability, to help job trainees obtain and sustain employment.
Vote Solar is a nonprofit advocacy organization working to advance state-level policies that make solar solutions accessible to all. Since 2002, Vote Solar has worked to build an equitable clean energy future by leveraging deep policy expertise, strategic partnerships, and public engagement. In the face of powerful opposition, Vote Solar champions bold solutions that expand clean energy access, drive investment in frontline communities, and accelerate the transition to 100% clean energy.
