The photo voltaic backyard has the capability to supply electrical energy to about 600 homes
La Plata Electric Association Board of Directors President Ted Compton held a ribbon chopping ceremony marking the completion of development on the Sunnyside Community Solar Garden in south Durango. (Tyler Brown/Durango Herald)
Starting in July, the La Plata Electric Association will start taking subscription purposes for its Sunnyside Community Solar Program.
The energy cooperative celebrated the development of its first neighborhood photo voltaic venture by way of a ribbon-cutting ceremony final Wednesday. The photo voltaic backyard, north of Sunnyside Elementary School in south Durango, occupies 9.4 acres on a 55-acre property, making it the biggest array within the county.
It is able to producing energy for about 600 properties and offering 22,000 100-watt shares.
“We’ve in all probability been this property for no less than 10 years,” mentioned Dan Harms, LPEA’s vice chairman of grid options, including that because the energy co-op constructed a substation on that property , the administration felt it was the right place to construct a photo voltaic backyard.
The LPEA made headlines in March when it voted to withdraw its contract with the Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, its wholesale vitality supplier.
The transfer was made partially so the co-op may pursue clear vitality alternatives reminiscent of photo voltaic tasks.
The objective is for the co-op to be absolutely self-powered by 2026 when LPEA formally cuts ties with the ability wholesaler, Harms mentioned on Wednesday.
“I see this venture as a sport changer. It’s not nearly flipping the change on photo voltaic panels. I see it extra as flipping the script on how we provide energy to our neighborhood,” mentioned LPEA Board of Directors President Ted Compton.
Solar panels are single-axis which implies they maneuver to observe the place of the solar all through the day.
The photo voltaic backyard was constructed by Durango-based Konisto Companies, LLC, and has 3,623 complete panels. The venture was primarily funded by a $13.4 million mortgage issued by the US Department of Agriculture.
La Plata County, a outstanding anchor tenant for the venture, can be investing $2 million within the photo voltaic backyard.
“This venture is essential for the clear vitality way forward for La Plata County and I commend the LPEA for beginning it,” mentioned La Plata County Commissioner Marsha Porter-Norton. “The taxpayers of La Plata County are getting a superb return on funding and the $2 million will finally return into County coffers. It’s a win-win-win if ever there was one.”
Enrolled members will obtain credit on their electrical energy payments primarily based on the variety of kilowatt-hours their subscription produces every month, beginning in October 2024.
The electrical cooperative hopes to have the photo voltaic panels operational by July however has not set a selected date for when the photo voltaic backyard can be absolutely operational. LPEA continues to work by way of paperwork concerning metering and tax credit.
The software interval opens July 1 and can be accepted till Aug. 29. If demand exceeds subscription provide, purposes will transfer to a lottery system, the co-op mentioned in a information launch Wednesday.
One of the important thing facets of the venture is its income-qualified program, which is able to supply 50% of energy to LPEA members who earn lower than 80% of the world median earnings.
LPEA Energy Management Adviser Emily Missildine mentioned the 80% space median earnings equates to about $88,000 per yr for a household of 4.
Harms mentioned eligible members obtain a 20% low cost on vitality charges. These financial savings are administered by way of the LPEA however are funded by way of the Inflation Reduction Act and never the cooperative.
tbrown@durangoherald.com