The 1.95MW Coyote Ridge Community Solar Farm will generate energy that will benefit low-income households, affordable housing providers and nonprofit organizations.

As the solar industry continues its historical path of growth, it is important that its benefits are accessible not only to those who are in a financial position to have solar installed on their homes, but all of society.

A break for low-income households, a boon for non-profits such as schools, fire stations, and others, and an opportunity for volunteers to get job training and hands-on experience in solar installation skills—the Coyote Ridge Community Solar Farm is breaking new ground.

Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association and Denver nonprofit GRID Alternatives have announced a partnership to build a community solar farm on 9 acres just south of the Larimer County Landfill. It will generate enough energy for 300 member households, a third of which make 80% of less of their area median income. David White, with PVREA, says the goal is to make normally expensive solar energy more accessible. "This brings in a large segment of the population to take advantage of that generation source that previously was only available to those that could afford that up-front start up cost." The community farm is part of a broader Colorado Energy Office initiative to show how low-income solar models can fill rural utility needs. They expect to have it finished by mid-Autumn. For KUNC, I'm Teal Witter.

FORT COLLINS — The Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association announced Thursday it will partner with the Denver-based nonprofit GRID Alternative Colorado to construct a community solar farm with portions designated for low-income households and nonprofit organizations.

The tribe has partnered with the Department of Energy, Empire Electric and the nonprofit Grid Alternatives to work out the substantial technical aspects of an industrial solar farm....The Ute Mountain Ute tribe was one of 13 tribes that received a total of $7.8 million grant funding from the Department of Energy’s renewable energy program.

This project is the largest in GRID history and will include the most capacity dedicated to low-income customers of any solar project in the country, according to Chuck Watkins, executive director of GRID.

For this project, volunteers will be able to help with construction in August and early September.

FORT COLLINS — The Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association announced Thursday it will partner with the Denver-based nonprofit GRID Alternative Colorado to construct a community solar farm with portions designated for low-income households and nonprofit organizations.

Some kids from Wisconsin are helping out with the low income family solar power project. Because of the solar farm on 29 Road, 35 homes will receive renewable energy.