How might Colorado's coops use federal aid?

At least some of Colorado’s 22 electrical cooperatives have hopes of securing help through IRA and other programs. Here is a glimpse of their intentions

Electrical cooperatives had a deadline of Sept. 15 to submit letters of interest to the federal government’s Rural Utilities Service if they had hopes of getting federal funding under the Inflation Reduction Act or other federal aid programs designed to assist in the energy transition.

A full list of what electrical cooperatives in Colorado are thinking about is impossible. Here is just a glimmering:

Microgrids will be going forward in San Miguel Power service territory in southwestern Colorado with $4 million for one in Rico, $2 million for one in Ophir, $5 million for one in Ridgway, and $5 million for one in Silverton.

In Durango, La Plata Electric has plans for a 2 megawatt solar project called Sunnyside. It is to be built by students at Fort Lewis College and then purchased by the electrical cooperative.

La Plata and the Southern Ute Nation were awarded $240,000 from the $235 million in the IRA for tribal climate resilience.

Poudre Valley Electric is eyeing federal funds for three or more projects, including a 117-megawatt solar or wind project; virtual power plant projects using distributed energy storage; and water-heater controls for demand response.

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