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About the Project

Valley Range Energy Park is a 125MW Solar Energy Generation Facility collocated with a 62.5MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) being developed and planned in the unincorporated area of Montezuma County. Valley Range Energy Park is a resilient, clean and cost-effective solution to an increasing demand for reliable domestic energy. The project has the potential to deliver significant investment in Montezuma County and provide long-term benefits, including new local jobs, increased tax revenue to support essential services, community benefits, and enhanced energy reliability, creating a lasting positive impact for future generations.

Download Project Overview

What will the project look like from nearby roads and properties?

The location of the proposed Valley Range Energy Park was thoughtfully selected to minimize visual impacts. For most residents and visitors, the project will be shielded from U.S. Highway 160 by a natural ridgeline. Any neighboring properties will be visually shielded from the project by a combination of setbacks, natural features and native vegetation to maintain existing viewsheds. As part of the design process, the Project is completing a series of visual simulations to further inform the site layout and visual mitigation plans, including simulations from various locations within Mesa Verde National Park.

Will this project hurt my property value?

Concerns about the impact to property values resulting from neighboring development are understandable, but research on impacts resulting from solar development tells a reassuring story. A survey of County Assessors in 14 counties within Colorado in which solar projects are located determined that there was no market data indicating the proposed Valley Range Energy Park will have a negative impact on either rural residential or agricultural property values in the surrounding area.

Will the project be noisy?

Solar and battery projects like the proposed Valley Range Energy Park do not increase sound levels on neighboring properties. To ensure this result, sophisticated acoustics modeling has been completed to inform the site layout.
Some temporary construction noise is expected but will only occur during daytime hours and will follow local noise rules.

Will there be bright lights at night?

Solar and battery projects like the proposed Valley Range Energy Park do not cause light pollution or otherwise impact dark skies. In fact, solar energy projects improve visibility and air quality by reducing the need for fossil fuel generators.

A limited amount of security lighting around the substation will be shielded, directed downward and only used during a very limited amount of maintenance activities. The light emitted from solar projects is less than the light emitted from a common household.

Will this project impact tourism in Montezuma County?

The proposed project is designed to coexist with the area’s tourism economy, which are both aligned on sustainable preservation of our natural resources. The proposed project is located behind a natural ridgeline near the county fairgrounds, shielding it from visitors traveling along U.S. Highway 160. To inform any visual mitigation necessary from the overlooks within Mesa Verde National Park, the Project is completing a series of visual simulations from within the park. By boosting local revenues, increasing air quality and supporting infrastructure, Valley Range Energy Park may even indirectly enhance the visitor experience in Montezuma County.

What are the local benefits of the project?

Solar and battery projects like the proposed Valley Range Energy Park will assist in lowering the cost of energy for local families and businesses, create and support local jobs, generate new tax revenue for schools and essential services, and support local nonprofits through a community giving program. Below is a summary of what responsible projects like Valley Range Energy Park can offer:

Estimated savings of over $12 million in annual load payments to energy consumers
Over $13 million in new tax revenue
Support over 157 local jobs and generate $11 million in new local earnings
Provide $30,000 in annual scholarships, preparing students for the jobs of tomorrow

Valley Range Energy Park is an investment that lasts for generations to come. To learn more about project benefits, visit the Benefits page.

Is the power being sold locally?

The buyer of the power generated from the Project has not been confirmed. However, the location where the power will enter the grid has been confirmed. The project is interconnecting into a substation shared by both local and regional utility companies. The project location was chosen to ensure it benefits local families and businesses - regardless of the actual power trade on the market.

What happens at the end of the project’s life?

Decommissioning will be initiated if the entire Project has not operated for a period of up to three years, or when the Project has surpassed its useful lifespan. To ensure this commitment, the Project will obtain, for the benefit of Montezuma County, a bond from a creditworthy entity in an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the estimated net costs to comply with applicable decommissioning and restoration requirements.

Solar Energy 101

The sun provides us with the most abundant source of energy on earth - solar energy. Solar energy yields clean, affordable power while also bolstering communities and fostering energy independence. When the sun hits the solar panels, the photovoltaic (PV) cells in the panels absorb the sunlight. This energy then gets converted into electricity. The power produced by the panels then flows into the existing utility transmission system and is distributed to power homes, businesses, and more.

Download Solar FAQ

Battery Energy Storage 101

Download Energy Storage FAQ

Battery Energy Storage Systems allow for the storage of energy so it can be discharged on an as-needed basis. Battery Energy Storage Systems provide many important functions, such as:

Providing power during emergencies and extreme weather events preventing blackouts

Lower energy costs by storing energy when the price of electricity is low and discharging it back onto the grid during peak demand

Creating a more reliable grid by instantaneously balancing the power supply with demand

Providing an alternative to wired electrical systems, reducing the need for costly grid upgrades

Diversifies the United States energy portfolio increasing the resiliency of our domestic energy supply

Frequently Asked Questions

What impacts will the project have on the local area?

Energy storage is generally very low impact, and Snoqualmie Energy Storage is not expected to have any significant impacts on local residents, the environment, or cultural resources. On the plus side, adding energy storage to the electrical grid makes it more resilient and reliable, and can help facilitate the integration of zero-carbon resources like wind and solar.

How does the local community benefit from a solar project?

Solar energy projects bring economic and financial benefits to the local community in the form of jobs, property taxes, payments in lieu of taxes, local permitting and siting fees, and more. The additional revenue is typically used to help support schools, infrastructure and vital services. Accelergen is also interested in learning how it could support the community with specific needs (eg, new broadband services, parks, etc).

Does a solar project impact the health of residents, children, and the environment?

Solar energy projects do not emit any air particulates or contaminants, require no underground storage or water to operate, and do not discharge any biproducts into the local water well. Solar energy enables a safer environment to raise our families while meeting the growing demand for affordable electricity.

Will the project raise my electric bill?

No, Snoqualmie Energy Storage should not cause your electricity bill to go up. Battery storage helps keep
electricity prices stable and affordable. By storing energy during times of over-supply and releasing it
during peak demand periods, battery storage can smooth out fluctuations in electricity prices and help
stabilize costs for consumers.

How does energy storage help fight climate change?

Energy storage allows us to store excess renewable energy, like wind and solar, and discharge it when demand is high, smoothing out fluctuations and making renewable energy more reliable. Traditionally these services have been provided by fossil fuel power plants. By storing renewable energy, we can rely less on fossil fuel power plants to meet peak demand, leading to fewer carbon emissions. Energy storage can also help make the grid more efficient and help reduce energy consumption

How will the project demonstrate sensitivity to the local community & culture?

We are committed to working closely with the Snoqualmie Tribe to ensure that their cultural and
environmental heritage is respected and preserved. This includes respecting ancestral lands and working
in partnership with the Tribe to ensure the project aligns with its priorities. We are conducting formal consultations with the Snoqualmie Tribe and use the free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) model to integrate their feedback and tribal priorities into development decisions, particularly on environmental and cultural impacts.

Where are the solar panels made?

For the first time in decades, the solar supply chain is coming home, positioning the United States to lead the global clean energy future. Since 2022, there have been 51 announcements for new or expanded solar manufacturing facilities to drive in manufacturing jobs. The transformational buildout of the domestic solar supply chain will help the United States gain greater control of its energy resources and reduce dependence on foreign imports.

Do solar panels contain toxic components that harm humans?

The majority of solar modules are silicon based. Silicon is the second most abundant element on earth (primarily found in the form of quartz sand) and non-toxic in all its natural forms. They are are designed and manufactured to withstand harsh environmental conditions and extreme weather events. These hardened structures protect the solar cells from the elements and support plans to keep the facilities operating for 35+ years; therefore, the panels pose little risk of leaching during operation or during removal and disposal. In order to operate, the internal components of modules must be protected from the elements, particularly moisture, in order to prevent corrosion and the release of materials.

Can renewable energy produce the same amount of power as fossil fuels?

Yes! Large-scale fossil-fuel fired plants typically range in size from 250-1,000 megawatts (one megawatt
operating at full capacity can power 500-1,000 homes). Many large-scale renewable energy facilities are size-able percentages of their electricity also hundreds of megawatts in size, and several states already get from clean power. In fact, more than 60% of the power in Iowa and nearly 60% of the power in South Dakota comes from renewable sources. In contrast, Washington ranks 31st in the country and only gets about 9% of its electricity from wind or solar power. By storing and then dispatching energy from variable renewable resources like wind and solar, projects like Snoqualmie Energy Storage help make it possible to increase the amount of electricity we get from clean, pollution-free sources.

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