A lot can change in just a few years. That maxim is particularly true in innovative, technology-driven sectors of the economy such as the American solar industry. And with solar panel costs now at all-time lows – often beating all sources of new power on price – community solar is taking off, with the market nearly quadrupling from 2015 to 2016.

For those still new to the idea, community solar allows individuals or businesses to participate in a nearby solar facility and receive a credit on their electric bill for the clean energy produced. Clean energy supporters recognize that community solar projects are incredibly important for providing greater access to renewable power, as nearly three-quarters of all households and businesses are unable to host solar systems on their rooftops because they rent their spaces or lack a suitable site.

Colorado was the first state to introduce the concept of community solar to the nation in 2010 and the sector has come a long way in those seven short years, and as consumer education increases, the future looks increasingly bright. A 2015 study by Deloitte Resources found that 64 percent of Americans ranked “increasing the use of solar power” among the top three energy-related issues most important to them, up from 58 percent in 2014 and 50 percent in 2013. Meanwhile, the up-front cost of community solar participation declined 43 percent from 2010 to 2015. As a result, community solar is anticipated to represent 30 percent of the total non-residential solar market as soon as 2018.

That’s why we are particularly excited to participate in the upcoming Coalition for Community Solar Access Summit in Denver at the end of July. This first-of-its-kind event will bring national and local industry leaders together to discuss that growth and work on charting the future.

It’s fitting that Denver is the host city for the event, as Colorado ratepayers and local utilities have embraced community solar. Last year, Xcel Energy and two dozen industry stakeholders entered a historic settlement that will add up to 117 megawatts of additional community solar projects between the end of this year and 2019. That means a lot more Coloradans – including those without rooftops suited for solar – will have the opportunity to participate in the American energy revolution that is taking place in energy markets across the country.

The community solar market extends far beyond the Centennial state’s borders; 18 states have passed legislation enabling access to community solar, and many more utilities have voluntarily implemented programs.

That same story of exponential growth in the overall industry is also true for our company, Clean Energy Collective. Born in Carbondale though a partnership with Holy Cross Energy, the company, now based in Louisville, has grown to more than 100 employees. Clean Energy Collective currently has over 170 projects either in operation or development. Since launching the state’s first community solar project in 2010, our company has supported thousands of jobs in a variety of industries and invested hundreds of millions of dollars in projects across the country – all while saving customers millions in energy costs.

If we want to enter into a new era of energy dominance as the president suggests, it will require freeing our nation from the volatility of the global energy markets and increasing our use of homegrown, American-made solar power. Community solar will increasingly become part of that solution in the years to come, and we are looking forward to continuing to implement our Colorado-born energy solution across the nation.