Solar energy provides heat for buildings and water water storage, and it can generate electricity.  The Governor's Energy Office estimates that Colorado could potentially produce as much as 83 million megawatt-hours per year from solar technology.  The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden provides solar research in two main areas of concentration:  solar thermal and photovoltaic (PV) research.  The National Center for Photovoltaics is located at NREL, which works on increasing the efficiency of PV systems.

The Alamosa Photovoltaic Solar Plant was constructed in the San Luis Valley in 2007.  This solar center was the second largest photovoltaic facility in the nation.  Located near Mosca, Alamosa County, the plant was the first of its kind in Colorado.  Ranked as the 16th largest PV solar plant in the world when built, the power generated from the plant is purchased by Xcel Energy. 

For answers to the question "Is solar for me?", visit the Governor's Energy Office's website Recharge Colorado.