Poudre Valley REA Wins National Award

The Smart Electric Power Alliance has named Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association in Fort Collins the 2018 SEPA Power Players Electric Cooperative Utility of the Year, in part for its Coyote Ridge Community Solar Farm. The SEPA Power Players Awards honor utilities that provide the vision, models and momentum for the electric industry’s transition to a modern energy future.

“To win this award is such an honor for Poudre Valley REA. We developed the Coyote Ridge Community Solar Farm as a mechanism to serve all our members with solar energy and we’re proud to be able to deliver that opportunity,” PVREA President and CEO Jeff Wadsworth said in a press release.

The community solar farm, located south of the Larimer County Landfill in Fort Collins, was dedicated in August 2017. Coyote Ridge is Poudre Valley REA’s third community solar farm and is owned and maintained by PVREA. The 1.95-megawatt solar farm sits on 9 acres and has nearly 6,000 panels.

As of August 2017, it was the nation’s largest low-income community solar project, with the majority of the energy output benefiting low-income households, affordable housing providers and nonprofit organizations in the co-op’s service territory. The remainder of the energy output is offered to other consumer-members.

The Colorado Rural Electric Association is proud of PVREA for its forward-thinking initiatives.