Solar gardens ready to bloom in Colorado

Solar gardens are poised to sprout across Colorado - from Fort Collins to Leadville to the Paradox Valley near Utah - and some are already taking root.

Looking to take advantage of a new incentive program from Xcel Energy, the state's largest electric-utility company, community groups and developers are crafting garden proposals. Solar gardens enable people who don't have a sunny roof or the money to buy a full array to buy or lease a piece of an array - in some cases for as little as $1,000.

Colorado could set the pace for the nation. The state has a solar-garden law, developers specializing in the collective solar installations and innovative private financing.