Introduction
The last decade has seen an unprecedented rise in innovation, energy technology, and passion for clean energy. The COSSA Institute is building upon the incredible gains made by COSSA and its members and channeling that momentum into giving back to our communities.
To ensure a safe, sustainable future for the next generation and curb the worst impacts of climate change, 100% clean energy needs to be reached in the next decade. To help make this happen, we must share our story with the public, grow the talent pool, and equip communities with the knowledge and skills necessary to increase solar energy generation, storage, and consumption.
Our early investors will be the backbone of this important initiative. Only with the support of business leaders and philanthropists will the COSSA Institute be able to execute its programming with the magnitude of impact that will touch every corner of our state.
Your support of the COSSA Institute will build a foundation for community engagement that will accelerate the momentum of a renewable energy, climate-safe future.
Thank you for being a partner in this effort.
— Mike Kruger & Kathleen Staks
Mission Statement
The COSSA Institute is a Colorado-based 501(c)(3) organization focused on accelerating the clean energy movement through community investment. The COSSA Institute provides the necessary tools, training, and resources to grow and expand the solar and storage industry — keeping up with market demand for clean energy.
The COSSA Story
The Colorado Solar and Storage Association (COSSA) is an award-winning organization that serves as the trusted voice for Colorado’s solar and storage industry. Its mission is to expand solar and storage markets and generate jobs and prosperity for the people of Colorado.
Together with hundreds of solar and storage business members, COSSA works to advance clean energy policies, remove market barriers, highlight emerging trends, and increase solar and storage education.
Since 1989, COSSA has been leading the charge and laying the groundwork to reach 100% clean energy in Colorado.
COSSA serves as an advocate and resource hub for the industry, positioning it for rapid growth in any political environment.
COSSA plays a critical role in expanding the industry’s footprint by supporting its members’ goals, including growing their businesses, advancing clean energy policies, and supporting solar and storage education.
COSSA makes the necessary connections to scale its members’ efforts and ensure long-term success.
Since 2017, solar installations have tripled thanks largely to the COSSA membership and greater solar and storage community. Solar and storage have become widely studied, more commonly used, and a driver for employment and training opportunities. In the last year, COSSA’s advocacy arm has made incredible gains and been the driving force behind:
- Reasonable solar permitting fees
- Modernized distributed generation laws
- Incentives for battery energy storage systems
- Updated interconnection standards
- Better distribution system planning requirements
- Protecting the bill credit for community solar gardens
The COSSA Institute supports the industry-focused work of COSSA by building on its historic gains and enhancing its work at the community level.
Source: EIA/Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables U.S. Solar Market Insight™ report 2022 Q2
COSSA Institute
Community Impact:
The COSSA Institute is committed to supporting and increasing COSSA’s work by growing the solar and storage industry through education and community involvement.
Support of the Institute allows us to build a pipeline for accredited professionals while educating both lawmakers and communities on the benefits of solar and storage.
Your Support:
Educates Lawmakers
- Provides an easy-to-use guide on the myths and truths of solar and storage
- Creates in-person engagement opportunities such as events, energy panels, and facility ribbon cuttings
Provides Scholarships
- Through vocational scholarships, more people are able to join this rapidly growing industry, receiving the tools and training they need – in turn helping Colorado businesses gain access to a pipeline of accredited, highly trained employees
- Through educational scholarships, we provide opportunities for the research that is necessary to continue raising efficiency, lowering costs, and improving safety conditions across the industry
Creates Public Awareness
- Educates the community on the benefits of clean energy
- Explains local regulations and incentives, as well as career opportunities in the solar and storage field
Who We Are
COSSA Institute Leadership
Mike Kruger
President and CEO | COSSA
Mike Kruger has served as the President and CEO of COSSA since October 2018. Previously, he was the Director of Communications for the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) in Washington, DC. He oversaw all public communications for the organization, including public speaking engagements, research reports, and the annual SEPA Power Players Awards program.
Prior to joining SEPA, Kruger was the Deputy Director of Communications for the U.S. Department of Commerce under the Obama Administration. He also served on the communications staff for the U.S. House of Representatives Education and Labor Committee.
Mike earned a Master of Arts in Education and Social Justice from the University of London and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Western Washington University. When he’s not explaining the wonders of the electric grid, you can find him watching baseball.
Kathleen Staks
Executive Director | Western Freedom
Kathleen Staks is the Executive Director at Western Freedom, an organization that is working to enable the delivery of low-cost electricity and energy freedom to the West through an efficient and integrated grid system.
She served as the Executive Director of the Colorado Energy Office under Governor Hickenlooper and as the assistant director for energy and minerals at the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, working with the administration, legislators, and a wide variety of stakeholders to develop and implement policy for all forms of energy in Colorado.
Kathleen has extensive experience in public affairs and strategic engagement on a broad spectrum of energy and natural resources issues in the public and private sectors.
Avenues for Giving
Founders’ Circle
$10,000
Donate before Q2 2023 to help us launch this exciting new initiative.
Community Investment
$10,000–$100,000
Project-driven giving for direct community impact.
Event Sponsorships
$1,000–$10,000
Support the COSSA Institute kickoff (February 27–March 1, 2023). Information available upon request.
General Operating
Donor’s Discretion
Support the COSSA Institute at any level.
Solar & Storage
Where are we now and where are we going?
For years, deployment of solar and storage from individual rooftops to utility-scale installations have grown rapidly due to the lower cost of solar panels, safer storage solutions, increased research and development, and the urgent need to combat climate change.
In recent years, government-driven incentives have dramatically expanded access and caused a spike in demand, both for materials and trained technicians.
- The Investment Tax Credit (ITC) is a 30% federal tax credit for solar installations on both residential and commercial properties
- Many Colorado utilities offer additional incentives for solar or energy storage installations
- Solar installations in Colorado are a key building block of reaching 100% clean energy goals by midcentury
- The National Renewable Energy Laboratory projects that the share of solar energy used in the United States could rise to 45% by 2050
