The Grand Valley's first solar farm began producing electricity Aug. 1.

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — The Grand Valley's first solar farm began producing electricity Aug. 1.

Two years ago the rural electric cooperative Grand Valley Power began looking into how it could promote solar energy to its customers.

The utility broke ground in May for the 88-solar panel farm at 714 29 Road.

Rooftop solar arrays on private homes usually cost $15,000 to $20,000 — a hurdle for many of its members, GVP energy service administrator Derek Elder said.

For a $950 one-time upfront leasing fee of the 235-watt panel, a co-op member can receive electricity for 25 years. At current electricity rates that means a person would recoup his investment in 22 years.

“The reality is rates will go up,” Elder said. “As rates go up, the (rate of) return will come down.

“A lot of our solar grid-tie customers (who install solar arrays on their homes) are retired or getting ready to retire and are on a fixed income and are looking to control their expenses (against future rate increases) as much as possible.”

One 235-watt panel at maximum production is enough to energize three 75-watt lightbulbs, Elder said. Members will see the amount of electricity produced monthly noted on their utility bills, along with an average $3.60 credit per panel.

Residential customers can purchase up to a 10 kwh system, or about 40 panels. An average household needs about 20 panels for its entire electricity use, Elder said. A person can buy one panel per year if they want.

“They can build their system to their comfort level,” Elder said.

“If a person wanted to go up to 40, and consumed only 20, they'd receive a credit at the end of the year for the excess (energy).

People who install solar panels on their rooftops also receive credit for extra electricity produced.

“The advantage of the solar farm, we break it down panel by panel,” making it affordable for people, Elder said.

Once all 88 panels are leased, the co-op will use funds to build phase two. The site currently energizes 20 kwh.

“At this site we have the capacity to build up to 130 kwh,” Elder said. “If that fills up we'll take the same model and replicate the model on other property.”

Customers who move after they've purchased a panel are allowed to transfer that solar credit to a new address as long as it's a Grand Valley Power account. If the person moves outside of Grand Valley Power service area, the credit either stays with the property or can be transferred to another Grand Valley Power account.

Grand Valley Power serves outlying areas of Fruita and Grand Junction, from the Utah state line to the rural areas of DeBeque. The co-op includes 17,000 meters.

Atlasta Solar of Grand Junction installed the farm's solar panels.

“They did a good job and it looks nice as well,” Elder said.

A ribbon-cutting of the new solar farm takes place 10 a.m., Friday, Aug. 12, at 714 29 Road. Grand Valley Power is also celebrating its 75th anniversary with an open house and annual meeting, 4-8 p.m. at 845 22 Road. Grand Valley Power was formed in 1936, by a group of rural people in the lower Grand Valley who had been unable to secure electric service from existing utilities, due to unavailability at the time, or high construction costs to the individual user.
The utility began Aug. 1, 2011, producing solar power at its solar farm at 714 29 Road. Eighty-eight solar panels were installed on two-thirds of an acre by Atlasta Solar Center.
Grand Valley Power customers can protect against future rising electricity rates by purchasing one or more of the farm's panels ($950/each). As electricity rates go up, customers will recoup their investment in solar sooner.




GO&DO
What: Grand Valley Power solar farm ribbon-cutting AND 75th anniversary open house and annual meeting

When: Fri., Aug. 12 — ribbon cutting at 10 a.m.; celebration, 4-8 p.m.; BBQ buffet meal served 5-7 p.m. with the meeting.

Where: Ribbon cutting - 714 29 Road

Open house and meeting - 845 22 Road

Info: 242-0040, www.GVP.org