Clean Energy Collective Inks First Agreement for Member-Owned Solar Farm in the Roaring Fork Valley

Reported by Staff

Carbondale-based Clean Energy Collective has closed on a long-term lease to build its first member-owned solar array on land owned by the Mid Valley Metropolitan District in the Roaring Fork Valley. Situated on a secluded quarter-acre site just west of the community of El Jebel, the facility will host about 350 solar panels representing 80 kW of clean energy, enough to serve approximately 35 CEC members.

“This is a great use of the land,” says Bill Reynolds, MVMD executive director. The power generated by the facility will go directly onto the Holy Cross Energy grid. Members in the Clean Energy Collective will own the power generation site and will be directly credited on their electric bills for the power produced.

Although this half-million dollar facility will be the second largest array in the Roaring Fork Valley to date, it is a pilot site for the CEC and the smallest facility planned for the CEC’s portfolio. By comparison, the CRMS solar array in Carbondale is 147 kW. The next CEC facility pending approval will be 900 kW.

“This is momentous,” says Paul Spencer, founder of the Clean Energy Collective. “We’ve been focused on creating this member-owned model for a long time, and now we’re ready to break ground and start making the solar power available to absolutely everyone in the Valley.”

The business enables utility customers in the Roaring Fork Valley to collectively buy into medium-scale, community-based renewable energy facilities and reap the benefits without having to build a system of their own. CEC members leverage their collective purchasing power and buy as little or as much clean energy equipment as they choose at much reduced prices, and are directly credited on their electric bills.

According to CEC, it has developed the legal, tax, monitoring and billing structures that make the project the first of its kind in the nation. The key, says the company, is the simplicity offered for the average utility customer, because he or she won’t have to do any research, installation and maintenance, and the entry fee is much lower than a traditional purchase.

“Our model makes solar ownership available to absolutely everyone, including renters, those with reduced incomes and homeowners in solar-challenged locations,” says Spencer. He predicts, “It will increase the region’s solar adoption alone by 67% in the next five years.

The local utility is enthusiastic about the model, as well. “One of the vital benefits we see from this model is a utility-scale community system fully integrated with the utility and, more importantly, one that is perpetually operated and maintained,” says Steve Casey of Holy Cross Energy, which provides power to most Roaring Fork Valley consumers. “The CEC model provides a unique vehicle for our members to participate and enjoy the benefits of renewable energy generation,” adds Casey.

Other renewable energies including wind, micro-hydro, biomass, and geothermal will be part of the CEC portfolio as well.