Over McClure Pass, between Hotchkiss and Delta, one of the nation’s most innovative photovoltaic power projects is complete and will have a grand opening Sept. 30. It will be the largest solar farm on Colorado’s Western Slope. The Garnet Mesa Solar project has tracking photovoltaic panels over 400 acres of former cattle pasture, but now […]
Solar
Posted inNews
Electric Powers
“By connecting our new rooftop solar to this battery system, we’re enhancing the museum’s energy resilience and helping create a smarter, cleaner grid for our community,” declared Bobbi Hapgood, president and CEO of the Powers Art Center. The Powers Art Center (13110 Highway 82, Carbondale) is among the first commercial facilities within Holy Cross Energy’s […]
Posted inEnvironment
Senate draft of “Big Beautiful Bill” poses challenges for sustainability
On May 22, the U.S. House of Representatives passed budget reconciliation package H.R. 1 — also known as the “One Big, Beautiful Bill Act” (BBB). Many of its provisions aim to cut down on federal spending by targeting climate-related tax credits, which are likely to put a dent not only in the operations of renewable […]
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Scuttlebutt & Calendar
Carbondale graffitiOn Sept. 24, Carbondale police received reports of criminal mischief initiating an investigation into ongoing graffiti. Officers took reports of “tagging” at more than 20 locations and two juveniles were charged with Criminal Mischief Class Felony 6 (damages from $2,000 to $5,000). ChildcarePitkin County and Kids First have increased income limits for childcare financial […]
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Holy Cross rate restructuring sparks controversy
On March 1, Holy Cross Energy (HCE) informed its customers that the Glenwood Springs-based cooperative’s electricity-rate structure was being significantly modified. The first round of the new rates, which are to be rolled out over a period of three years, are set to take effect starting Sept. 1. In addition to an overall increase in […]
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Basalt Report: Council moves ahead with solar and sustainability codes
Installing five separate solar panel arrays to generate renewable energy is worth the investment; spending money on backup battery storage, not so much. That was a key finding Town Engineer Catherine Christoff reported in the Basalt Forward 2030 Solar Project Update at the Basalt Town Council’s regular meeting Tuesday night. Cristoff told council members that […]
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Garfield, neighboring counties prepare for solar surge
Representatives of five counties gathered June 24 for an all-day conference in Rifle to compare notes and discuss strategies for preparing for an expected surge in utility-scale solar development. The roster of other participants at “Harnessing Solar Benefits for Western Colorado” — including staffers from nearly a dozen solar developers, several nonprofits, the Bureau of […]
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Sustainable buildings sprouting in Willits
On Thursday, June 30, Amanda Poindexter helped organize a tour of the electrical buildings in Willits for both U.S. Green Building Council members and the general public. After a brief meet and greet, the tour explored two buildings. The first was The Hub, which is primarily housing for Aspen Skiing Company (SkiCo) employees. The second […]
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Basalt greenlights solar project and police station
At its regular meeting, virtually held, January 25, the Basalt Town Council approved the hiring of Golden-based McKinstry Essention LLC to evaluate, plan, select the site and design the Town’s first solar and battery storage project. Members swiftly powered through the passage of three ordinances after second readings and four resolutions, comprising what Mayor Bill […]
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Report details regional solar potential
An in-depth study issued this fall has detailed the status of and potential for solar power in the tri-county region — Eagle, Garfield and Pitkin counties — and has outlined a series of steps for how to implement its findings. Titled “Three-County Solar + Storage Study and Action Plan,” it was produced through the collaborative […]