All Hail Solar Energy! StatisNostics helps examine the impact of hailstorms on Golden, Colorado’s solar panel industry.

Golden, Colorado, known as the “Lowell of the West” for its innovative progress in industrial expansion, is facing an environmental enemy: hail. Hailstorms in the city are proving to be a major problem for the solar panel industry in Golden. With hailstones ranging from 1-3+ inches in diameter, the snowy stones are causing immense damage to the town’s solar panels. Back in 2017, Golden’s National Renewable Energy Lab, which houses over 3,000 solar panels, was hit by a major hailstorm. While the majority of the panels remained intact, these storms have been and continue to be an expensive problem for the city of Golden, Colorado.

Golden was run through the StatisNostics.com database, which utilizes U.S. Government census data, to determine the FEMA RISK levels in the area. Golden has a very high risk of hail with its risk index score being 99.22 out of 100. According to the database, the city loses about $440,000 every year repairing the damages these hailstorms cause. But it’s not just Golden that’s paying the price. Denver, CO, with a risk index score of 97.92, loses around $180,000 due to hailstorms. Arvada, CO, with a score of 97.12, is losing close to $274,000 to hailstorms.

The risk index score, rating, and expected annual loss of hailstorms in Golden, Colorado (data provided by StatisNostics).

Want to know if your city is at risk of hail or any other natural disaster? Visit www.statisnostics.com to receive information about your town’s climate data, public safety, health, economics, real estate, schools, demographics, and government.

1. Spears, Chris. “Massive Hail Storm Takes on over 3,000 Solar Panels and Loses.” CBS News, CBS Interactive, 15 May 2017, www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/solar-panels-survive-hailstorm/. 

2. Golden History Museum and Park. “City of Golden, Colorado.” Golden History | City of Golden, Colorado, www.cityofgolden.net/live/golden-history/#:~:text=A%20Center%20of%20Industry%20and,the%20mountains%20to%20the%20west. Accessed 10 Jan. 2024.