21 May
We extend our heartfelt support to the communities affected by the tornadoes on Sunday, May 18, 2025. Among the impacted areas was Pioneer Solar, a solar facility that provides power to CORE. Idemitsu Renewables, the owner of Pioneer Solar, has shared the following information on the storm’s impact:
On Sunday, May 18, 2025, a tornado touched down in Bennett, Colorado, directly impacting the Pioneer Solar site—an 80 MWac photovoltaic power plant supplying electricity to CORE Electric Cooperative.
There were no reported injuries, and critical infrastructure, including the substation and major electrical components such as inverters, remains unharmed. Most of the damage was limited to fencing, solar panels and tracker equipment. Approximately 8.5 MW, or roughly 10% of the site’s capacity, has been affected. The rest of the facility has already been safely re-energized, with minimal impact to the power delivered to CORE.
We are actively engaged in debris removal and developing a comprehensive remediation plan. We continue to work closely with CORE Electric Cooperative to ensure they remain fully informed throughout the recovery process.