Renewable Energy Compliance Pathway
To comply through the renewable energy pathway, buildings must use onsite or offsite renewable power generation to cover at least 20% of their annual site energy usage, the total gas and electricity the building uses in one calendar year.
Choose Your Path
There are two ways to meet this requirement. You only need to follow one.
1
Onsite
Renewables Pathway
You generate renewable energy at your building, most commonly by installing solar panels.
2
Offsite
Renewables Pathway
You subscribe to renewable energy generated elsewhere, such as a community solar garden.
Steps to Demonstrate Compliance
1
Calculate Your Building’s Annual Site Energy Use 
You'll need 12 months of Xcel Energy billing statements for any calendar year from 2022 onward. Use them to calculate your annual site energy usage in the Annual Site Energy Usage Spreadsheet (.xlsx, 12KB). Enter each month's electricity and gas usage in the appropriate columns. The spreadsheet calculates your annual site energy usage in kBtu. Select "Renewable Energy" as your compliance path, and the minimum renewable energy your building must obtain will display in kWh.
2
Confirm Renewables Meet the 20% Requirement
This is where onsite and offsite paths differ. Confirm your generation covers at least 20% of your annual site energy usage, and gather the documentation that applies to your path:
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Onsite Renewables (e.g., solar panels on your building): You’ll document that the system is installed and generating energy. Acceptable documentation might include a contractor invoice, installation contract, or your Xcel Energy interconnection agreement and permission to operate.
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Offsite Renewables (e.g., a community solar subscription):  You’ll document a subscription contract that states the amount of renewable energy applied to your building and runs for a minimum of five years. Subscription contracts can be retroactively credited from Nov. 22, 2021.
3
Once we review your submission, we’ll email you to confirm your building’s compliance status or request additional information. You can expect a response within 10 business days, though this timeline may be extended during periods of heavy volume.
Need More Time?
You can adjust your building’s compliance deadline by submitting the timeline extension application to allow for additional planning and implementation time.
If you need additional support or are unsure which compliance pathway is best for your building, schedule a call with the Help Desk.