At the beginning of January, the two US companies Deriva Energy and Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association announced the start of commercial operation of the Spanish Peaks Solar project, which has a module output of 180 megawatts (DC) in Las Animas County, Colorado. The power generated by the facility will be sold to the utility-owned Tri-State cooperative under two long-term power purchase agreements. Spanish Peaks Solar is expected to produce over 370 million kilowatt-hours annually.
“This project will provide the community with affordable and reliable solar power while contributing to the transition to renewable energy. We are grateful for the support of all who have helped make this possible and look forward to continuing to provide Colorado with renewable energy,” said John Clapp, CEO of Deriva Energy.
Solar farm generates tax revenue
“Tri-State members will benefit from low-cost power from Spanish Peaks Solar while helping put us on track to achieve 50% renewable energy use by the end of 2025,” said Duane Highley, CEO of Tri-State. ”Deriva Energy and Juwi have been great partners in supporting our mission of delivering reliable, affordable, and responsible power to our members.”
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The 180 MW Spanish Peaks Solar project is located in the Tri-State member San Isabel Electric Association (SIEA) service territory, near the San Isabel Solar Project, which also provides power to Tri-State members. The solar farm will also generate tax revenue. The revenue from the Spanish Peaks Solar project also supports the Ambulance District in Trinidad, Colorado, the Reorganized School District in Aguilar, Colorado, the Spanish Peaks-Purgatoire River Conservation District and the Fire Protection District in Spanish Peaks-Boncarbo, Colorado, among others.
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“Spanish Peaks Solar showcases the benefits that new energy projects provide to both Tri-State's member utilities and the rural communities where the projects are located,” said Don Keairns, SIEA board member and Tri-State board vice chair. “Spanish Peaks Solar is part of Tri-State's reliable, affordable, and diverse portfolio of resources serving San Isabel Electric Association and the other members, and brings new investment and taxes to southern Colorado.”
Deriva Energy and Juwi share operations and maintenance
Deriva Energy acquired the Spanish Peaks Solar project from Juwi in January 2024. The commercial operation of Spanish Peaks underscores Deriva Energy's commitment to providing economical solutions for the energy transition, but also positions the company as a key developer for the clean energy landscape in the region. Spanish Peaks is Deriva Energy's sixth renewable energy project in Colorado. The plant began commercial operation on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
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Juwi was responsible for the development and engineering, procurement, and construction of the Spanish Peaks Solar Project, with the Boulder, Colorado-based JSI Construction Group serving as the primary general contractor. The projects began construction in late 2023 and created more than 230 jobs on site at peak periods. The solar photovoltaic modules used in the projects were procured by Deriva Energy. Deriva Energy will share operations and maintenance responsibilities with Juwi, as the plants will employ nine full-time staff. In total, Juwi has now realized 25 projects in the USA with a total capacity of almost 700 megawatts (DC) since 2009, and a further 300 megawatts (DC) are currently under construction.
Low-cost financing from the U.S. Department of Agriculture
“We are pleased with the timely completion of Spanish Peaks Solar. This achievement underscores our commitment to implementing cost-effective, high-quality solar projects. The timely completion of the project is a result of close collaboration with Deriva Energy, Tri-State, SIEA, and the local community and government in Las Animas County. The dedication and hard work of the Juwi team, coupled with our reliable subcontractors, were essential to the success of the project,” said Michael Martin, CEO of Juwi Inc.
The Spanish Peaks Solar projects are supported in part by low-cost financing from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Empowering Rural America (New ERA) program. This program empowers Tri-State members and rural communities in four states to provide reliable, affordable energy to meet growing demand. (hcn)
