25 Mar
Rural electric cooperatives CORE Electric Cooperative and Holy Cross Energy (HCE) have partnered on a new solar array on Colorado’s Eastern Plains.
The Hunter Solar project is a 75-megawatt solar array in Arapahoe County, Colorado. CORE will buy 45 MW and HCE will purchase 30 MW of power output.
CORE and HCE both have committed to carbon-neutral, renewable energy and greenhouse gas reduction goals supporting statewide goals.
“Hunter Solar adds to CORE’s growing portfolio of renewable energy sources powering the path to energy independence and clean energy solutions for our members,” said Chris Hildred, CORE’s Power Supply Director. “We are proud to work alongside HCE in meeting our collective cooperative goals.”
“This project represents one more step on HCE’s journey to provide our members with 100% clean energy by 2030,” said Bryan Hannegan, President and CEO of HCE. “Projects such as this represent the power of collaboration amongst cooperatives, and we look forward to sharing this clean energy resource with CORE for years to come.”
Long-term power purchase contracts will serve both utilities throughout the region southeast of Denver and in the mountain communities in Eagle, Garfield, and Pitkin counties. In total, Hunter Solar is anticipated to power the equivalent of approximately 15,500 homes annually.
The solar arrays are mounted on a tracking system, allowing them to follow the sun throughout the day as it moves from east to west, capturing maximum output from the sun.