PRPA lays out plan for 355K MWh solar array in Weld County

FORT COLLINS — The largest solar array in Northern Colorado will be built to serve the member communities of the Platte River Power Authority if Weld County planners and commissioners approve of the location.

The array, proposed to be built on 1,000 to 1,400 acres of land northeast of Black Hollow Reservoir, would deliver 355,000 megawatt hours of energy to PRPA, which is the wholesale supplier for owner cities Loveland, Longmont, Fort Collins and Estes Park. The project is to be done in conjunction with 174 Power Global , through its subsidiary BHS Solar LLC. The permitting process with Weld County has begun, according to information provided by Platte River.

Exact location and layout are subject to review of physical, environmental and land-use constraints and feedback from  stakeholders, including neighbors, state agencies and county leaders.  

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The project is large enough to power about 43,000 homes and will replace the output from Platte River’s coal-fired Craig Unit 1 generator, the utility said. That generator is scheduled for retirement in 2025.

“The addition of the Black Hollow Solar project will take us approximately halfway toward our goal of providing 100% noncarbon energy,” Jason Frisbie, general manager and CEO of  Platte River, said in a written statement. “This is one of many significant steps we’re taking to achieve our Resource  Diversification Policy, and we’re excited to move forward with construction.”  

An estimated 320 full-time workers will be on the job throughout the construction period and up to 450 during the 12 to 14-month peak construction period, PRPA said. Additionally, eight to 10 permanent positions will be needed to manage the solar farm when operational. Tax revenues, payments to  landowners and local purchases of supplies and services will also contribute to Weld County’s economy.

“A project of this size and scope illustrates Weld County’s support of a diversified energy  economy,” said Rich Werner, CEO of Upstate Colorado. “Both traditional and renewable  energies support the growth of our population and the regional economy, and we look forward to  working with our partners through the process to ensure public benefit to the entire region.” 

Per the agreement with Platte River, 174PG will build, own and operate the Black Hollow Solar project and sell the electricity it generates to Platte River beginning in 2023 under a long-term  power purchase agreement. Energy will be delivered to Platte River’s owner communities in Colorado’s north Front Range through a substation to be built adjacent to existing Platte River  transmission lines. 

Combined with the 30 megawatt Rawhide Flats project that began delivering energy in  2016, and the 22 MW Rawhide Prairie Solar installation (with two MWh of battery storage) that began commercial operation in March, the 150 MW Black Hollow Solar project will elevate Platte River’s solar generating capacity to more than 200 MW. Platte River currently receives  power from approximately 230 MW of wind energy under long-term power purchase agreements.

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