The floating panels are the first of its kind in Colorado and only the fifth in the U.S. Working together, the Town of Walden, Johnson Controls, Colorado Energy Office and GRID Alternatives Colorado were able to pull of the first-of-its-kind project.

The array will provide a renewable and supplemental energy source to treat drinking water in the town, school district and Jackson County offices.

Native American tribes have been installing solar at least since 1987.  To advance this work, GRID Alternatives has launched a Tribal Solar Accelerator Fund with a $5 million commitment from Wells Fargo. 

Making renewable energy technology and job training accessible to traditionally underserved communities is necessary for a successful transition to clean, renewable energy that includes everyone.

As Colorado works toward producing more renewable energy, GRID Alternatives Colorado is working to make the industry more diverse.

GRID Alternatives Colorado and the Denver Housing Authority, along with local energy businesses such as Namaste, have partnered to establish a Solar Training Academy to help meet the skilled employment demands of Colorado’s growing solar energy sector. Perhaps more importantly, they are recruiting talent from Denver’s underprivileged communities.

Last year, Poudre Valley REA teamed up with the nonprofit GRID Alternatives Colorado and the Colorado Energy Office to build the 6,106-panel, 1.5-megawatt solar array on 9 acres south of the Larimer County Landfill southwest of Fort Collins on land leased from the county.