Colorado’s electric cooperatives serve a diverse group of communities including some of Colorado’s most low-income communities and bustling suburbs.

US Senator John Hickenlooper and CREA Executive Director Kent Singer chat during the CREA Energy Innovations Summit.

CREA HOSTS 15TH ANNUAL ENERGY INNOVATIONS SUMMIT

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Industry leaders discuss the electric industry

The Colorado Rural Electric Association concluded its 15th Annual CREA Energy Innovations Summit. This year’s conference brought together more than 275 industry experts and leaders who discussed the latest developments in today’s dynamic energy landscape.

During the opening session, United States Sen. John Hickenlooper emphasized the importance of a bipartisan approach to energy and climate issues. He shared valuable insights from his experience with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act and drew from his background as a geologist. At lunch, NERC Senior Vice President of Strategy and External Engagement Camilo Serna discussed with attendees the impact of coal fired power plant retirement on the North American power grid.

“Bringing together leaders and experts from across the U.S. and Canada for a day of shared knowledge highlights CREA’s commitment to excellence. Together, we are shaping the future of the electric industry, and it’s inspiring to see what we can achieve as a united community,” CREA Executive Director Kent Singer said.

Breakout sessions and panel discussions that facilitated engaging conversations and networking opportunities were available throughout the day. “The lineup of presenters at the 2024 CREA Energy Innovations Summit was the best I’ve seen in my many years of attendance at the event,” Mountain View Electric Association CEO Ruth Marks said.

A session covering advanced reactors explored the potential of new generation nuclear technologies as a sustainable solution for achieving carbon-free electricity. Another discussion focused on load growth and data centers, where experts from CoBank, E3, and RMI analyzed the soaring demand for data centers and its implications for resource planning. Additionally, a panel discussing barriers to EV adoption examined Colorado’s electrification goals and discussed strategies to combat range anxiety and improve charging station availability. “The topics were timely and relevant to Colorado cooperative issues of the day. From hearing about NERC reliability concerns to becoming better informed about emerging technologies, it was definitely time well spent,” Marks continued.

“As we wrap up the 15th annual summit, I’m encouraged by the collaboration and leadership we’ve fostered over the years” said CREA Director of Member Services and Education Julie Baker. “We are thrilled with the turnout and the level of engagement from our participants.”

The 2025 CREA Energy Innovations Summit will take place on November 3 in Westminster.

Colorado’s Electric Co-ops Send Volunteer Crews to Light Up Navajo Nation

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In June and July, seven Colorado electric co-op line crews traveled to parts of Arizona to help electrify homes on Navajo Nation.

More than 13,000 families living on Navajo Nation do not have basic access to electricity at home.

An initiative between the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority and the American Public Power Association, Light Up Navajo works to change that statistic and to change people’s lives. “It is hard to believe that in 2024 there are still families in the United States that have never experienced having electricity,” CREA Board President Steve Valdez said.

Some NTUA applicants have waited years for electricity at home. Challenges include infrastructure limitations, supply chain issues, and siting and permitting considerations. Melissa, a new NTUA customer whose home was connected in June, had waited one year for electricity. “I purchased my home last year and was trying to take care of my family,” she said. She and her kids lived with Melissa’s parents during that time. “Now my kids have electricity and we’re going to be forever grateful,” she said, expressing thanks to the Colorado crew that worked to connect her home.

CREA supported the project. “CREA is incredibly proud of the lineworkers from Colorado’s electric co-ops who helped bring light and power to residents of the Navajo Nation.” CREA Executive Director Kent Singer said. “We are thankful for the opportunity to improve the lives of our neighbors in northern Arizona.”

Since 2008, NTUA and volunteer crews have connected more than 7,500 homes to receive electricity. This year’s mission was to connect at least 150 homes. Volunteer crews surpassed that goal and helped connect 170 homes.

“Participating in projects such as Light Up Navajo are important because they exemplify the cooperative principle of Concern for Community,” Valdez concluded. “Volunteers banding together to improve quality of life is how co-ops got their start. Today, Colorado’s electric co-ops are still improving the quality of life in rural areas — it’s who we are.”

USDA announces funding for Solar-Storage projects

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Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, U.S. Representative Yadira Caraveo (CO-8), and Colorado Agriculture Commissioner Kate Greenberg held a press conference June 17 in Fort Collins to discuss efforts to create additional income opportunities for producers and entrepreneurs by building more, new, and better markets; providing more options for consumers to buy healthy, locally produced products; investing in infrastructure and creating new jobs; and strengthening local and regional supply chains in Colorado and across the country.

Secretary Vilsack spoke about the Powering Affordable Clean Energy program, which is funded through the Inflation Reduction Act. Inflation Reduction Act investments provided the single largest investment in rural electrification since the Rural Electrification Act of 1936. IRA investments include significant incentives to:

  • lower energy costs for rural communities and businesses;
  • protect the environment;
  • reduce pollution through clean energy;
  • create jobs and spur economic growth.

The press conference -— held at Poudre Valley REA’s headquarters — also included the announcement that PVREA will receive $9 million to create solar energy battery storage capacity.

“We see your efforts, and we’re making sure to bring public investment to help you achieve your goals on behalf of the people in Northern Colorado,” U.S. Representative Yadira Caraveo told PVREA and other attendees at the announcement.

PACE programs are designed to create an opportunity where wealth can be created within a rural community and stay within that rural community. Secretary Vilsack said Colorado understands the value of these programs and, as a result, is attracting significant investments from the USDA.

Vilsack also expressed appreciation to Poudre Valley REA. “There is an attitude here, at this rural electric association, an attitude of trying to be one step ahead … to continue to provide the safe, affordable, and reliable electricity that your customer base depends on,” he said. “As a result of that, you’ve seen rather significant expansion of opportunity over the 85 years that you’ve been in existence. You’re continuing that today, and USDA wants to be a part of it.”

Rep.-Yadira-Caraveo

Representative Yadira Caraveo speaks at the funding announcement at PVREA’s headquarters in Fort Collins in June. Photo by Kylee Coleman.

Secretary Vilsack also announced that Montrose-based Delta-Montrose Electric Association received funding for creating a photovoltaic system to produce additional electricity and to reduce emissions with the electricity it currently provides to its co-op members.

It is estimated this project will reduce emissions by about 10%.

“This is about more affordable electricity that can help spur and spawn opportunity, in the service area,” Vilsack said. “This is about lower energy costs at the end of the day, because as [electric co-ops] receive assistance from the federal government, [they] obviously don’t have to burden the rate payers with this.”

USDA Secretary Vilsack

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack speaks about the PACE program at Poudre Valley REA June 17. Photo by Kylee Coleman.

 

PVREA CEO speaks at USDA press announcement2024

USDA Awards $9 million to PVREA

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Congratulations to CREA member co-op Poudre Valley REA — the Fort Collins-based cooperative received $9 million from USDA to develop solar energy battery storage. The award was announced at the cooperative’s headquarters on Monday, June 17. “There is an attitude here, at this rural electric association, an attitude of trying to be one step ahead, to make sure that you can continue to provide safe, affordable, and reliable electricity that your customer base depends on,” USDA Secretary Vilsack said of PVREA at the announcement.

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Colorado U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo

Other speakers at the announcement included U.S. Representative Yadira Caraveo, former Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, and Colorado Agriculture Commissioner Kate Greenberg. “We see your efforts, and we’re making sure to bring public investment to help you achieve your goals on behalf of the people in Northern Colorado,” Rep. Caraveo told PVREA and other attendees at the announcement.

USDA Secretary Vilsack

USDA Secretary Vilsack

Secretary Vilsack also announced that CREA member co-op Delta-Montrose Electric Association received funding for creating a solar photovoltaic system to produce additional electricity and to reduce their emissions with the electricity they currently are providing to their customers. It is estimated that this project will reduce emissions by about 10%.

PVREA Middle-Mile Fiber Internet

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Poudre Valley REA broadband power infrastructure will be seeing an increase in its resiliency soon. Larimer County has received a $995,429 grant from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs to help develop community-owned middle-mile fiber to the towns of Wellington and Masonville. Additionally, the county’s general fund will be matching the grant. While Larimer County is generally well-connected, this grant will be pivotal in providing improved access to unserved and underserved rural residents who have struggled with inadequate broadband infrastructure and unreliable service.

The middle-mile fiber project will include the construction of 107,168 feet of above-ground fiber on Poudre Valley REA poles, and will interconnect with existing community-owned middle-mile fiber. Wellington can expect to see improved connection both in town and in more rural areas, and this new fiber will connect with Fort Collins-based broadband service Connexion. The Masonville route will focus on improving connectivity along Larimer County Road 27 between U.S. Highway 34 and Masonville, which will create opportunity for last-mile expansion projects in collaboration with Loveland Pulse, Loveland’s fiber-optic internet provider.

The partnership between Connexion, Larimer County, and Loveland Pulse is focused on improving the community and providing excellent customer service, with Chad Crager, Connexion Broadband executive director stating “We believe that a great internet experience is the foundation for the future of innovation and collaboration in this region.” Each fiber service will own and be responsible for construction, maintenance, and operation of the new middle-mile project. Not only will this grant make improved connectivity possible for many homes, it also will help the community compete for future grants to upgrade infrastructure for years to come.

EV charging.2023

PVREA Offers EV Charging Pilot Program

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Poudre Valley REA partnered with FlexCharging to create an innovative pilot program that offers members an easy way to save on their electric bills. FlexCharging, a leader in EV charging technology, released EVision in June. This cloud-based EV grid integration and demand response software allows electric cooperatives and utilities to launch managed charging programs. Poudre Valley REA members who charge their EVs at home will receive bill credits for charging during reward charging times, between midnight and 3 p.m. Incentives include 2 cents off electric bills per kWh used to charge the EV, as well as a one-time sign-up bonus of $50 upon successful enrollment in the program. The average EV owner, who drives 30-40 miles per day, will save an average of $120 annually.

“At PVREA, we need a managed EV charging program to meet the needs of both our electric grid and the increasing number of EV owners in our area,” Tim Ellis, PVREA energy resources director said.  “A viable, cost-effective, and user-friendly telematics solution supporting the most available EVs allows us to maximize the positive impact managed EVs can have on our grid. We’re excited to partner with FlexCharging on a new pilot program, DrivEV, that we hope can result in a safer, more reliable, and more affordable supply of power for all our members.”

DrivEV will help reduce charging costs for EV owners, decrease energy loads on PVREA, and lower carbon emissions. A recent study showed that the share of electric cars in total sales has more than tripled since 2020, from about 4% in 2020 to 14% in 2022. Electric car sales exceeded 10 million in 2022. As more people make the move to EV vehicles, innovative programs such as PVREA’s DrivEV will help meet demand for growing EV ownership, funding for charging infrastructure, and rapidly evolving regulations to move to EVs. To learn more about PVREA’s pilot program, please click here.

Broadband infrastructure project in Roaring Fork Valley.2023

Holy Cross Energy Completes First Phase in Broadband Infrastructure Project

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Holy Cross Energy announced that Phase I of their broadband infrastructure project in the Roaring Fork Valley is complete. The three-phase project brings “middle mile” broadband infrastructure to several communities in both the Roaring Fork Valley as well as the Eagle River Valley. Middle mile infrastructure is, according to the Colorado Broadband Office, “The telecommunication network of robust, high-speed fiber or fixed wireless that brings broadband close enough to a residence or business so an internet service provider may provide internet access. Middle mile connects to the global internet backbone.” This improved infrastructure plan also serves to diagnose outages, dispatch energy resources in real-time, and increase reliability between Holy Cross Energy data centers in an emergency.

Phase I of the project improves fiber connectivity over a 41-mile stretch between Glenwood Springs and Aspen. Construction of Phase II begins later this summer, connecting Avon and Gypsum, and Phase III will connect the first two phases with a link over Cottonwood Pass. Holy Cross Energy’s fiber and broadband director, Manuel Gomez, states “HCE’s primary goal is to increase reliability and to dispatch energy resources in real-time. We are also excited to utilize our fiber where available to support our member and communities by providing access to a strong fiber network.”

The decision to pursue middle mile projects was made by the HCE board of directors to support systems operations and increase connectivity to the community. Holy Cross Energy will not provide retail internet services, but instead has partnered with both public and private entities to increase fiber infrastructure by subleasing the fiber network to regional internet providers. As of today, the only lease on HCE’s fiber infrastructure is through a partnership with the Northwest Colorado Council of Government, which provides middle mile broadband services to Pitkin County, the City of Aspen, the Town of Basalt, and the Town of Snowmass Village.

GCEA 2023

GCEA Breaks Ground on New Hydroelectric Project

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GCEA broke ground for the development of the Taylor River Hydropower plant at the base of the Taylor Park Dam on May 31. The hydropower facility’s nameplate capacity is 500 kilowatts, placing it within the “small hydro” scale. Small hydro powers local communities and contributes to a regional grid. According to GCEA Strategy Execution Specialist Matt Feier, this project could result in the production of 3.9 million kilowatt-hours each year, which is about the same amount of energy as 2,500-kilowatt fixed-tilt solar arrays. The plant will generate enough electricity to power approximately 475 GCEA-served homes every year. GCEA has been working to diversify its supply portfolio by adding environmentally friendly, sustainable resources that are in accordance with the terms and conditions with its wholesale power supplier, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association. All energy generated at this hydroelectric facility will be distributed to members of GCEA members, making this an exciting new development for the community.

GCEA partnered with the Uncompaghre Valley Water Users Association to bring this project to life, a venture that has been several years in the making. GCEA and UVWUA signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2020 to form a jointly owned entity called Taylor River Hydro LLC to develop, own, and operate the plant. The Taylor Park Dam was originally built to accommodate a hydroelectric generation facility when it was constructed in 1937, though one has never been implemented until now. The dam is owned by the United States Bureau of Reclamation and is operated by the UVWUA; maintenance and operation responsibilities will be handled by GCEA. The hydroelectric facility is expected to operate at full capacity 24 hours per day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year, not including occasional downtime for maintenance and repairs. The Taylor River Hydropower project was originally slated to be finished in late 2023, but now has an expected completion date of mid-February 2024.

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Co-ops Add Microgrids to Improve Resiliency

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By Sarah Smith

Access to reliable electricity is top-of-mind for CREA and its member electric cooperatives. But natural disasters such as wildfires and winter storms can affect that reliability by taking down electric infrastructure and isolating rural areas (sometimes for long periods of time).

Two projects exemplify how Colorado’s co-ops are implementing microgrids, which are autonomous energy systems that serve specific areas and provide backup electricity with common-sense solutions when needed in emergencies. Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association in Fort Collins went live with a microgrid in Red Feather Lakes in October. Holy Cross Energy in Glenwood Springs is moving forward with another microgrid project on the Western Slope.

Poudre Valley REA wors with Red Feather Lakes representatives to install battery storage for its microgrid.

Red Feather Lakes is 60 miles away from PVREA’s headquarters. Historically, it has been prone to disasters that have major impacts on its single transmission line bringing electricity to the town. High elevation, heavy snowfall, dangerous winter driving conditions, fallen trees, wildfires and even tornadoes put this mountain town at risk for losing power.

PVREA leaders decided to create a microgrid after the local library won a grant to install solar panels and a battery to improve resiliency and cut electricity costs. The microgrid was installed at the local fire station, which has diesel generators and is located across the street from the library. PVREA controls the microgrid and owns the 140-kilowatt/448-kilowatt-hour battery. Now in place, the microgrid will provide secondary power for several hours if a disaster occurs.

“This project is rooted in community, which is a huge part of who we are as a cooperative. The Red Feather Lakes community came together to solve a need and approached us with the project. As we learn more about this microgrid, we can share that information with other cooperatives across the nation so that we all may better serve our members,” said Sam Taggart, strategic communications director for PVREA.

The small community in northern Colorado gets its electricity delivered by a single transmission line and will benefit from its new microgrid if that line goes down.

The project also would not be possible without the assistance of PVREA’s partners. The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association led the initiative in Red Feather Lakes, which is one of four microgrid projects involving five co-ops nationwide. NRECA connected the co-ops with a U.S. Department of Energy project, which provided $1.3 million in energy storage grants. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories are also partners in the project. In addition, PVREA’s board of directors provided matching funding for its microgrid.

“The partners we had on this project were extremely important to us. We could not have completed this microgrid without our local, regional and national partners,” Taggart said.

HCE is also making headway with the creation of a microgrid system. The electric co-op is working on a feasibility study with Pitkin County and the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority to determine the practicality of a microgrid connecting a cluster of public facilities near the airport. The microgrid would be powered by renewable energy, independent from the larger electric grid. These facilities, which include the Aspen-Pitkin County Airport, the county’s public works facility, and RFTA’s bus barn, also would be protected from outages if service to the rest of the area is temporarily compromised by an outage. The feasibility study is funded by a $200,000 grant from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs.

With most of the research completed, HCE is looking ahead and fully anticipating making the microgrid a reality.

The urgency to create a microgrid in HCE territory emerged after the Lake Christine Fire in July 2018, which scorched more than 12,500 acres. The wildfire shut down power to the Upper Roaring Fork Valley, which includes the towns of Aspen, Snowmass Village and Basalt, with a year-round population of around 18,000. Three out of the four transmission lines running into Aspen were disabled and if the fourth line had gone down, it could have led to days or even weeks without electric service. This is not a possibility HCE is willing to face again for its members.

With the research phase of the microgrid project nearly complete, HCE is busy planning the next steps and the next phase of the project. Several grant opportunities are in the approval process, including one from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs. HCE will also cost-share part of the project, with funding going toward staffing needs and a protection plan to ensure the main grid is still being protected.

“Microgrids are really good on ‘black sky days’ and serve as a secondary source of power during a crisis. But there is also a great benefit to the grid on ‘blue sky days,’ and there is value in adding these batteries,” said Chris Bilby, research engineer for HCE.

“By installing a microgrid, we are actually going back to the old days. Many mines and train stations used to operate on microgrids, but because of the pollution, these transmission factories were moved farther away from populated areas, so people didn’t have to breathe that bad air in. With a clear path to clean energy in the near future, we can now move these microgrids back to communities,” Bilby continued.

In the face of a crisis, and especially when it threatens the resilience of the electric system, CREA and its electric cooperatives are working with their communities and other partners to find solutions. PVREA and HCE are examples of what it means to lead and overcome challenges to make reliable electricity readily available, despite any circumstance. Microgrids were the way of the past and now are an important step toward the future.

Sarah Smith is a freelance writer with a fondness for Colorado’s electric co-ops and the rural areas they serve.

Hybrid Bucket Truck Joins United Power’s Fleet

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A first-of-its-kind bucket truck joined United Power’s fleet.

The innovative, hybrid model bucket truck uses battery power to raise and lower the bucket as well as the bucket jib. It was debuted in September by the Brighton-based electric cooperative at the 2021 Utility Expo in Louisville, Kentucky.

The electric boom and jib (a small crane attached to the bucket, allowing line crews to lift heavy materials up to bucket height) provide a cleaner, quieter idle time. Not only does this save diesel fuel and reduce emissions, it will improve safety conditions for line crews, according to United Power Fleet Manager Bill Hottell. He said in a recent press release that it’s a safer option than a traditional truck because the bucket crew will have an easier time communicating with the ground crew without having to compete with the noise of an idling diesel engine.

The hybrid truck is assigned to the Carbon Valley Service Center to respond to outages on the west side of United Power’s service territory. People in the community can identify this new truck as the hybrid model because it was branded with green lightning graphics on the side.