AgriPower Solar awarded bid by Eric Eriksen

The sun is shining on the San Luis Valley! In March 2023, San Luis Valley REC sent out a request for pricing on two proposed solar installations of 1,000 kilowatt (kW) each, to be co-located at each of the Creede and Moffat substations. AgriPower Solar (APS) of Salt Lake City, Utah was awarded the bid based on the capacity of their systems to generate more energy per square foot than other bids at a competitive price, which yielded the lowest cost per kWh installed of any of the systems proposed. This low cost per kWh installed means better short- and long-term savings for REC’s members.
Coincidentally with the RFP, REC was selected by Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) to participate in a significant grant opportunity through the Department of Energy’s “Energy Improvement in Rural or Remote Areas” program. The teams at REC and APS have worked together for many hours crafting a response to this grant opportunity that will strengthen REC’s capacity to support its customers for years into the future. REC and APS are working together on two additional grant programs through the Department of Agriculture that, if awarded, will further increase REC’s capability to deliver clean, reliable, renewable energy independence for decades to come.
Each project will consist of 26 dual-axis solar arrays that have the capacity to track the sun all day as it moves across the sky enabling each system to produce a maximum of 1,000 kW (1MW) of instantaneous power or approximately 2.8 million kWh of clean energy at each installation – enough to power 270 homes for an entire year. Certain conditions of the DOE and USDA grants require acknowledgment of award before construction activities can begin. REC is committed to both projects, and construction will begin in earnest as soon as allowed by the grant conditions. Construction on both projects will conclude within nine months from commencement.
As the second oldest electric cooperative in Colorado, REC has a long tradition of serving its more than 7,500-member community and improving quality of life in the San Luis Valley. Implementing clean, renewable energy projects is another way that REC is demonstrating its commitment to its members and the wellbeing of the San Luis Valley.
Expect passion, integrity, and excellence from me as I lead with the great people of SLVREC to best serve you… improving your future. Today SLVREC is among the best cooperatives in Colorado, and we will constantly work at being better tomorrow.
Feel free to stop-in to say “Hi,” write EEriksen@slvrec.com, or call anytime to 719-852-6630. I look forward to your feedback, concerns and bright ideas.