Output from 10 MW Solar System Added to Cooperative Power Mix
Brighton, CO – United Power, Inc. (United Power), an electric cooperative serving Colorado’s northern Front Range, and OneEnergy announce the signing of a power purchase agreement on Aug. 17. Under the 25-year agreement, United Power will receive all the output of OneEnergy’s planned Overland Solar project beginning in 2024.
“This agreement is attractive because it leverages solar production right here in the cooperative’s service territory,” stated Mark A. Gabriel, President and CEO of United Power. “The 10 megawatt (MW) project will be directly tied into one of the co-op’s existing substations. That means clean, renewable power will be generated nearby and delivered to United Power members.”
OneEnergy develops solar energy projects across the United States for community solar, distributed generation, and large utility-scale project segments. OneEnergy is based in Seattle, WA, and has offices in Wisconsin, Washington, D.C., Oregon, and locally in Boulder, CO. When siting and building new renewable facilities, they work closely with all stakeholders – utility companies, neighbors, and other interested parties – to build projects that best serve consumers’ needs.
“We are honored to partner with United Power on their journey to deliver more renewable, affordable energy to their members. With the addition of the Overland Solar project to their portfolio, they are leading the way to a cleaner energy future for electric cooperatives,” said Gavin Berg, Vice President of Development at OneEnergy.
The Overland Solar project will be located north of Hudson and will feed directly into United Power’s distribution system. The project will produce 10 MW of noncarbon energy. Large energy projects like Overland Solar not only provide an economical energy source, but also generate tax revenues for the local community.
United Power serves nearly 110,000 meters and maintains and operates over 6,500 miles of distribution line. The 900-square mile service territory wraps around the north and west borders of the Denver International Airport. It includes the north and northeast metropolitan development corridors along Interstate 25, Interstate 76, State Highway 85, and E-470 and the Golden Gate and Coal Creek canyons, two of Colorado’s most iconic and historic mountain canyons. As a result of its geographic location, United Power’s system is experiencing significant demand and energy growth, averaging approximately 6% annually.
United Power is building a power portfolio ahead of leaving its current power supplier on May 1, 2024. The cooperative recently announced agreements with Whetstone Power LLC, Guzman Energy, and Ameresco for portfolio assets related to this exit. To learn more about United Power’s power supply transition, visit www.unitedpower.com/powersupply.
About United Power
United Power is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative, delivering electricity to homes, farms, and businesses throughout Colorado’s northern Front Range. The cooperative is one of the fastest-growing electric co-ops in the nation, and in June 2021 joined the elite ranks of cooperatives serving more than 100,000 meters. The 900-square mile service territory extends from the mountains of Coal Creek and Golden Gate Canyon, along the I-25 corridor and Carbon Valley region, to the farmlands of Brighton, Hudson, and Keenesburg. United Power is also a founding member of the NextGen Cooperative Alliance, which is dedicated to expanding the power supply and procurement options available to distribution co-ops and reforming the traditional generation and transmission business model. For more information about United Power, visit www.unitedpower.com or follow the cooperative on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.
Article provided by United Power.