PUEBLO, Colo., Sept. 26, 2019 – Black Hills Energy announced today it has issued a request for proposals for the development of 2.5 megawatts (MW) of additional community solar projects to serve its Southern Colorado customers. This offering includes 500 kilowatts (kW) of renewable energy capacity dedicated to serving low-income customers.

With this newest project, Black Hills Energy will have a total community solar garden capacity of 10 MW on its Southern Colorado system by the end of 2020, with 2 MW solely dedicated to serving low-income customers. This represents enough energy to supply the average annual electricity needs of more than 2,000 homes.

“We’re pleased to bring more renewable energy options to our customers,” said Vance Crocker,

Black Hills Energy’s vice president of operations for Southern Colorado. “Our community solar gardens program makes solar power more accessible to customers who may not have the ability to invest in a rooftop solar array,” he continued. “By subscribing to a community solar garden, customers have the opportunity to reap the benefits of Southern Colorado’s abundant solar resources while also seeing cost savings on their bill.”

Community solar gardens use technology similar to rooftop solar panels, but at a more efficient price point due to its size and scale,” said Crocker. “Subscribers to a community solar garden may purchase and own one or more “shares” of the facility and receive a credit on their electric bill proportional to their share of electricity produced by the system.”

“Our low-income solar program continues to grow and is available to income-qualified residential customers and local non-profit service providers as a meaningful way to help lower energy bills, while also making renewable energy options available to more customers,"

“Our low-income solar program continues to grow and is available to income-qualified residential customers and local non-profit service providers as a meaningful way to help lower energy bills, while also making renewable energy options available to more customers,” said Crocker.

“Community solar gardens are another example of Black Hills Energy’s leadership in growing Southern Colorado’s renewable energy options for customers,” said Crocker. “Programs like this make continued expansion of renewables easy and cost-effective for our customers and contributes to our commitment to deliver 30 percent of our customers’ electricity requirements from renewable energy resources by 2020.”

Submissions to this request for proposal are due to Black Hills Energy by Oct. 25, 2019. Learn more at www.blackhillsenergy.com/colorado-solar-programs