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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- A group of local entrepreneurs are trying to bring more solar energy to Colorado Springs.

The company is called SunShare. It has plans to build the region's first community solar garden later this year.

The garden would feature dozens of solar panels. Individuals can then lease a panel, and the energy savings would be passed onto their monthly Colorado Springs Utilities bill.

For some people like Alicia Archibald, solar energy hasn't been an option in the past.

"I rent, and I've rented for years, and could never have the option of having a solar panel because it wasn't my house," said Archibald, who recently purchased some solar panels from SunShare.

David Amster-Olszewski, the founder of SunShare, said the solar garden gives people like Archibald the ability to get involved with solar energy.

"So instead of having your solar system on your roof, which might cost $25,000 and you have to own your own roof, and you have to have a bunch of blue panels and holes in your roof, now you can buy a panel that's located somewhere else on someone else's property. But you still get the savings that you would get on your utilities bill as if those panels were actually on your roof," Amster-Olszewski said.

He said by buying solar in bulk, costs stay low for everyone involved.

"It's like going to Costco. If everybody buys together we can get costs down by about 30 percent," Amster-Olszewski said.

The panels cost a one-time fee of $550 which covers a 20-year lease, maintenance, and insurance.

Amster-Olszewski said customers rebates would depend on how many panels they purchase.

"If someone decides to buy as many panels as they need to power their whole house the could completely eliminate their utility bill. If you wanted to buy two panels you could buy two panels and that might power 10 percent of your home or less, but that's fine you can buy more later," he said.

Archibald said it's well worth the cost.

"It's your way of investing in the community for one, lower your utility bill, and take advantage of the great sun that we have. I think it's a wonderful community project that we can all work together and take care of a garden together, it kind of has a good ring to it," Archibald said.

Amster-Olszewski said the final site for the garden hasn't been decided, but there are four or five locations they are considering.

He said they plan to start construction in mid-October and have the system built by November.

He said leases would start seeing energy savings on their bills at the end of November.

Amster-Olszewski said they started taking deposits last week.

"Deposits are 20 percent of the $550, and they also go into an Escrow account. So if the system doesn't get built or if you don't like our final contract, you get your money back no questions asked," he said.

Archibald said she has no concerns about the final product.

"I have all the confidence in the world in the people that are running it, so I'm excited about it, and I think it's absolutely doable," she said.

SunShare is still waiting on final approval from city council on the credit which would go to the utility bills. They are scheduled to vote on that Sept. 27.