Primergy Solar completed construction on the Pitkin Solar Project, a 5-MW, 35-acre installation in Pitkin County, Colorado.
The project is located near Woody Creek in the Roaring Fork Valley on land leased from the Aspen Consolidated Sanitation District (ACSD). The land was originally purchased by ACSD for its dryland farming operation which repurposed wastewater treatment by-products. Energy from the project will be sold to Holy Cross Energy, an electric cooperative serving almost 45,000 members in western Colorado, under a 25-year power purchase agreement.
“The completion of the Pitkin Solar Project is an important step on our journey to 100% clean energy for our members,” said Bryan Hannegan, president and CEO of Holy Cross Energy. “We very much appreciate the efforts made by Primergy to work with Pitkin County to minimize the impact to the local community from the construction of this new source of clean and resilient energy for the upper Roaring Fork Valley.”
Primergy completed development, oversaw the construction and will operate the plant. The project was originally slated to have 18,000 cubic yards of civil work and a 20-foot berm constructed. However, the Primergy team was able to eliminate these elements by using low-touch land management.
Primergy installed the project without grading the site to minimize environmental impacts.
“Primergy Solar was an excellent partner to work with on this project,” said John Keleher, ACSD chairman. “They have been outstanding all around. Their patience and sensitivity to the land use review process was excellent. This solar project directly aligns with our purpose of protecting the environment. The power cost savings that result from our capital contribution will save ACSD customers money in the long run. This renewable energy project helps us directly offset the large amount of power we consume providing advanced wastewater treatment for our customers.”
The site is located under a flight path near the Aspen Airport and next to a popular pedestrian trail and residential neighborhood, which posed unique challenges including landscape requirements and glare concerns.
There are approximately 13,700 solar panels installed and Primergy selected innovative solar products to help maximize energy production including bifacial panels and tracking systems. The panels also use a specialized anti-glare product to reduce reflected light for both planes flying over and for neighbors.
“In Pitkin County, as with all our projects, we aim to chart out the most responsible path toward clean power to make communities more resilient and sustainable. Our ability to deliver is not based on chance, but rigor and an obsessive focus on detail and process,” said Ty Daul, CEO of Primergy. “We are proud of the lasting partnerships we’ve created with local community agencies and members here in Aspen and with Holy Cross Energy. When Primergy manages a project, you can trust it will be done in a timely, precise and thoughtful way.”
