Solar-powered ski lifts? The Alberta Lift at Wolf Creek Ski Area. Powered by San Luis Valley Rural Electric, Wolf Creek partnered with the co-op on the Penitente Solar Project. Using power from that, along with renewable energy credits, the ski area proclaims it runs on 100% renewable power./Photo courtesy Wolf Creek Ski Area 10/22/2026 Come January 2030, four ski areas in Southwest Colorado could conceivably be supplied principally from solar, at least on cloudless days. Called the Valley Range Energy Park, the project proposed east of Cortez calls for 125 megawatts of solar energy supplemented by 62.5 megawatts of battery storage. Developer of the proposed project is Accelergen Energy, based in Austin, Texas. The electricity would be sold to the local Cortez-based electrical cooperative, Empire Electric Association, as well as three others in Southwest Colorado, Gunnison County Electric Association, San Miguel Power Association and San Luis Valley Rural Electric Cooperative. Eric Eriksen, CEO of San Luis Valley coop, calls the project historic. By late 2029, he said, the co-op expects the project to supply about 40% of its annual energy needs. With other projects and sources, the cooperative expects to get 83% of its electricity from renewables by 2030. In addition, the four coops estimate they will amass savings of more than $20 million over the life of the project. San Luis Valley co-op serves Wolf Creek Ski Area, which matches 100% of its electricity use with renewable energy credits through a voluntary program. Gunnison County Electric serves the Crested Butte ski area, and San Miguel Power serves Telluride and Silverton. (Purgatory Ski Resort is powered by La Plata Electric Association, which gets about 32% of its annual power mix from renewable sources. According to LPEA, these sources include the Dolores Canyon Solar Project, the Sunnyside Community Solar Garden and various member-owned rooftop solar systems, alongside regional hydropower and waste-heat recovery.) All four co-ops that have pledged to buy power from the Cortez project are members of Tri-State Generation and Transmission, which LPEA officially left in April 2026. Other Tri-State members, including Brighton-based United Power, Delta-Montrose and Kit Carson, in New Mexico, also left Tri-State over its longtime ties to coal. Others have given notice of plans to leave. When Tri-State's plans for a controversial new coal plant in Kansas were finally approved recently, it was a hollow victory. By then, the cost of wind and solar had plummeted, and Tri-State began exploring its alternatives. However, Tri-State's pivot has been a difficult one. It has coal plants to retire and a shrinking membership. But the solar project near Cortez testifies to Tri-State's greater flexibility. It's part of the Bring Your Own Resource, or BYOR, program. The program allows individual co-ops to generate up to 40% of their own electricity -Tri-State's former policy limited local generation to 5%. The 125 megawatts of solar in this project were among 310 megawatts in three projects approved by Tri-State in 2024. Tri-State has an additional policy, called 115, that allows cooperatives to provide an additional 20% of their own electricity. These two programs together allow members the flexible opportunity to source up to 60% of their energy. Crucial, though, is the battery component, which gives flexibility in delivering electricity, said Alex Shelley, a communications officer for San Miguel Power. This is not the first solar project for any of the four co-ops. In September, Gunnison County Electric commissioned a 975-killowatt solar array that is expected to produce enough energy to serve the equivalent of approximately 250 homes. This is in addition to Gunnison County's previously commissioned Oh Be Joyful Solar array near Crested Butte as well as electricity from the Taylor River Hydroelectric Project. The San Luis Valley co-op also has access to solar electricity from the Penitente Solar Project. Partnering in that project is the Wolf Creek Ski Area, which along with the help of the aforementioned renewable energy credits, proclaims it runs on 100% renewable power. Eriksen points out that the Cortez project would help Tri-State achieve the state mandate of 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 as compared to 2005 levels. The renewables and battery storage also help the economics of his cooperative, reducing upward pressure on rates paid by the members. The Cortez project hopes to secure approval from Montezuma County by December, allowing construction to begin next year. Allen Best is a Colorado-based journalist who covers the state's energy transition in an e-magazine called Big Pivots. Reach him at [email protected].

PREMA announces intent to terminate wholesale power contract. Panhandle Rural Electric Membership Association (PREMA) announces intent to terminate wholesale power contract with Tri-State due to projected rate increases. PREMA will have a rate increase starting Jan. 1, 2026, of 4% which is attributed to Tri-State, but more alarming is the forecast of over 30% rate increases over the next several years. Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association based out of Westminster Colorado currently serves the district with a contract scheduled to end in December 2050. Projected rate increases have encouraged PREMA to search into alternative options for wholesale power providers. PREMA notice terminating the wholesale power contract will allow Alliancetimes to find alternative options while maintaining reliable service. Early termination of the existing contract will begin a formal process of transition. Notice to terminate contract will start a 2-year process to complete. "The driving factor for PREMA to look at alternative wholesale power supply is the projected rate increases. Tri-State is driven by policies and politics of Colorado that have tremendous cost increases that are unsustainable. These policies affect Nebraskans without benefit." added Zac Bryant, General Manager of PREMA. "Nebraska is the only Public Power state designed to supply reliable power at a lower cost, and members of Nebraska pay over 30% less than we do. Colorado policies affect more than their own state as Nebraska, Wyoming, and New Mexico will also be impacted. The costs impacts have become too great, and we have good alternative options." PREMA will provide updates and transparency as the transition continues. PREMA is working diligently with all appropriate agencies to ensure a smooth transition. PREMA celebrated 80 years this year of proudly serving the Nebraska Panhandle in portions of eleven counties covering over 7500 sq. miles. PREMA serves over 1600 members, providing service to more than 3800 meters.