Solar in southwest Colorado

La Plata Electric directors snip the ribbon on 1.7-megawatt Sunnyside Community Solar

Directors of La Plata Electric Association on June 12 snipped the ribbon on Sunnyside Community Solar.

Output from the 1.7-megawatt community solar project located on nine acres about 20 minutes south of Durango will be available in subscriptions. Half will be reserved for income-qualified members of the electrical cooperative, and they will get a 20% discount on their energy charges.

La Plata County played a pivotal role by investing $2 million in subscriptions for county buildings during the next two decades. Fort Lewis College also became a strategic partner and La Plata is working with the college to provide opportunities for students interested in energy.

“The taxpayers of La Plata County get an excellent return on investment, and the $2 million eventually comes back to the county’s coffers. This is a win-win if ever there was one,” said La Plata County Commissioner Marsha Porter-Norton.

Ted Compton, board president of La Plata, said that the solar project “stands as a testament to the power of collaboration within our community, advancing energy independence, fostering job growth, and ensuring inclusivity for all.”

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