The City of Boulder installed a 333.54-kW flush-mount rooftop solar system at Boulder Mod, a modular home factory located in Boulder, Colorado.

Namaste Solar, an employee-owned solar cooperative and Certified B Corporation, partnered with the City of Boulder for the installation.

The factory is a partnership between the City of Boulder, Boulder Valley School District and Flatirons Habitat for Humanity and produces energy-efficient, all-electric modular homes that are affordable for low- to middle-income households. 

By powering the all-electric Boulder Mod factory with solar energy, this project directly supports the city’s comprehensive Climate Action initiatives and reduces operational costs for the facility. 

Boulder is committed to achieving a 70% reduction in GHG emissions by 2030 and becoming a net-zero city by 2035. 

The system is designed to offset the factory’s total expected electricity consumption, ensuring that every dollar saved on energy is reinvested in Boulder’s mission to expand affordable housing. 

“This project exemplifies the powerful intersection of renewable energy and community development,” said Jay Sugnet, senior planner for the City of Boulder and project manager for the modular home factory, in a statement. “By integrating solar energy into Boulder Mod, we’re not only reducing our carbon footprint but also supporting the production of affordable, energy-efficient homes that our community urgently needs.” 

The City of Boulder and Namaste Solar have a long-standing partnership in renewable energy initiatives. In 2020, Namaste Solar installed 13 systems across City of Boulder facilities, including parking garages and its water resource facility. 

The Boulder Mod solar installation was made possible in part through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022, which created new incentives for clean energy adoption. One of the most significant changes for municipal governments has been the introduction of elective pay, or direct pay, enabling local governments to access tax rebates for clean energy projects even as non-taxable entities. Through elective pay, combined with additional payments from Xcel Energy’s Solar*Rewards C&I Income-Qualified and Disproportionately Impacted Communities program, Boulder was able to maximize the financial benefits of installing solar at this facility.