San Miguel Power Association (SMPA) and Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association announced last Wednesday at a meeting in Nucla a series of projects, donations and a workforce development program to support Montrose County.
“San Miguel Power Association is one of the largest employers in the West End of Montrose County, and we are gratified to be part of these significant developments, which will support new jobs and the local tax base,” said San Miguel Power CEO Brad Zaporski.
Tri-State CEO Duane Highley said the new projects and donations are a continuing effort to support Montrose County and the Nucla-Naturita area.
“Tri-State's and our members’ investments will continue to support communities across Montrose County, with new employment opportunities and significant contributions to the local tax base,” Highley said.
Working with local communities and stakeholders, SMPA is proposing a 20-megawatt solar facility on the local electric distribution system in Montrose County. The project is part of Tri-State and its members’ innovative Bring Your Own Resource program. SMPA intends to use $9.8 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture Empowering Rural America (New ERA) investment for the project. SMPA will work with Tri-State and local, private landowners on the project.
“New ERA represents a significant opportunity for SMPA to once again partner with our local communities that are experiencing impacts from the retirement of fossil fuel generation.” Zaporski said. “This is a shining example of partnership in action to help bolster our rural communities.”
Tri-State members Gunnison County Electric Association in Gunnison and Empire Electric Association in Cortez also are partners in the SMPA solar project.
In other news, Tri-State announced an additional $400,000 donation to the West End Pay It Forward Trust Resiliency Grant Program (WEPIFT) in Nucla, a local endowment fund supporting community development. The Telluride Foundation announced an additional commitment at the same time of $400,000 through its own community grant programs dedicated to the West End. Tri-State previously made a $500,000 donation to WEPIFT in July 2020.
WEPIFT has been supported by the Telluride Foundation since the trust’s inception, including grants, programs and initiatives, plus resources, including the grants enabled by the original Tri-State donation.
And, as part of an April 11 filing with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (CoPUC), Tri-State announced its preferred portfolio for Phase II of its 2023 Electric Resource Plan. Tri-State disclosed the plan includes a 50-megawatt battery storage project in Montrose County, scheduled to be online in 2026.
“Tri-State is delivering on its commitment to a reliable, affordable and responsible electric system to serve its rural members well into the future, and Montrose County will be a part of that solution,” Highley said.
The Montrose County storage facility is one of 10 new resources totaling 1,657 megawatts across Tri-State's four planning regions. Tri-State forecasts that 70% of the energy it provides to its members will come from renewable resources in 2030.
Also in last week’s announcements are plans for a new “reverse osmosis” water treatment facility at the former New Horizon Mine in Nucla. The facility will treat water from a spring located on the mine site before being discharged into Tuttle Draw, which flows into the San Miguel River.
Groundwater, which upwells at the former New Horizon Mine named the “Dakota Spring,” contains elevated minerals and metals. The on-site water treatment plant will include a reverse osmosis system designed to remove elevated impurities. This process involves forcing water through a semi-permeable membrane under pressure, allowing water to pass through while collecting salts, minerals and other impurities.
Construction activities will begin on the water treatment facility in 2026, and operations are planned to begin in 2027. The current design requires four to five individuals to operate the facility.
The Telluride Foundation will work with Tri-State on a workforce development program, which could include training workers for the water purification plant at the former New Horizon Mine.
