By Todd Holtan, Namaste Solar
Namaste Solar has partnered with businesses, developers, general contractors, and real estate investors from all different industries and verticals to invest in on-site solar. We designed and constructed 4.2 MW of solar across 20 sites for Colorado State University. We worked with Shea Properties to design and install a portfolio of systems at their Apex South affordable housing development. And we built solar carports and installed EV charging stations for the KONG Company. Here are five ways property owners can benefit from solar:
About the author: Todd Holtan has over 10 years of construction experience and is dedicated to helping businesses and individuals achieve their solar energy goals. He combines industry expertise and a commitment to sustainability to deliver practical solutions for every project.
Namaste Solar – Phone #: 303-816-3893
An Improved Bottom Line Via Tax Benefits
At least half of your original investment in solar is recouped through tax credits and deductions, providing a double-digit internal rate of return (IRR) in many cases. The “One Big Beautiful Bill” (OBBB), signed into law July 2025, accelerated the step-down of federal tax credits and increased the importance of safe harbor for solar projects. There are still ways to realize the 30% federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and the adders in the Inflation Reduction Act. Reach out to your local solar installer to see if your project is eligible for the federal ITC.
Reduced Utility Expenses
On-site solar replaces a sunken expense with an asset. The money you pay to the utility company can be used to purchase a three-decade solar asset that provides long-term benefits to your company. Even owners of triple-net (NNN) leased properties where tenants pay the electrical bills can recoup their investment while offering energy savings to their tenants.
Potential to be Cash Flow Positive Immediately
Colorado’s Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) program allows businesses to implement solar with little to no money out of pocket (100% loan-to-cost), enabling projects to be cash-flow positive from year one after recouping the tax benefits. Building owners can bundle the cost of a new roof, solar PV system, LEDs, and heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning upgrades into one fixed-interest loan with terms up to 25 years. CPACE is a non-recourse financing tied to the property via a special tax assessment, which removes risk for property owners and allows transfer to the next owner upon sale.
Brand Reputation and Differentiation
The Denver metro area is a growing and increasingly competitive market that is attracting many national and international firms. Commercial solar sets these businesses apart from the competition and provides real estate investors with access to a more sophisticated tenant class with internal sustainability committees or mandates. Solar helps increase occupancy and base rates, meet corporate sustainability goals, comply with regulations, and retain quality employees and tenants. Companies that have installed solar know that there are few capital energy improvements that offer such a holistic range of benefits.
Increased Operating Income
In addition to utility savings from solar, some utilities will purchase the renewable energy credits (RECs) generated by your system. For example, a 200kW system on a 30,000 square foot flat roof in Xcel Energy territory will generate approximately $11,000 in annual income for 20 years. This income directly increases your property’s Net Operating Income (NOI).
To Sum It Up
On-site commercial solar electricity is cheaper than traditional, utility-based electricity over time. As utility rates continue to rise, so does the value of your solar system’s energy, and these savings free up capital to fund core business initiatives or investments. For those seeking to achieve environmental, social, and governance goals or mandates, solar brings impressive and quantifiable environmental benefits to the table. It also increases the marketability of your property, giving you an edge in today’s hyper-competitive market, all while generating an attractive return on investment.
