Loveland Utility Provider Launches Massive Solar Project to Replace Coal Power

Platte River Power Authority is nearing completion of the first phase of Northern Colorado's largest solar project, a 150-megawatt facility that will triple the utility's solar capacity while helping replace coal-fired power plants serving Loveland and three other municipalities.

The Black Hollow Sun project's first phase will generate about 350,000 megawatt-hours of energy annually when it begins commercial operation this fall — enough electricity to power nearly 43,000 typical Colorado homes. A second phase adding 107 megawatts is scheduled for completion in summer 2026, bringing the total project to 257 megawatts across nearly 1,400 acres in Severance.

"We are committed to meeting our communities' non-carbon energy goals by creating a more diversified, low-carbon energy portfolio," said Melie Vincent, chief power supply officer for Platte River. "Shifting from a traditional power supply with exceptional reliability to weather-dependent resources presents new challenges that we must overcome to continue reliably and cost effectively serving our owner communities."

The solar expansion addresses growing electricity demand during extreme weather events, which have become increasingly frequent in Northern Colorado. Loveland experienced record-breaking temperatures of 106°F during a July 2022 heat wave, with some areas now experiencing more heat waves in two years than occurred in entire decades of the 20th century.

Major Infrastructure Investment by Municipal Partnership

Platte River Power Authority, established in 1973, serves as the wholesale electricity provider for Loveland, Fort Collins, Longmont and Estes Park through a collaborative governance structure featuring an eight-person board with two representatives from each municipality.

The Black Hollow Sun project represents part of a broader transformation of Platte River's energy portfolio, which currently consists of 36.8% coal, 25.1% wind, 10.9% hydropower and 2.4% solar, according to the utility's 2023 annual report. When fully operational in 2026, the solar project will increase Platte River's total solar capacity to 309 megawatts.

"As loads on our system increase in high heat events, we monitor our system closely to reliably serve our customers and avoid equipment overloads that could lead to damage or failure," said Adam Bromley, Loveland's Electric Utility Division Manager.

The project will help Platte River achieve its goal of generating 58% of total annual energy from non-carbon sources while replacing electricity from retiring coal-fired stations.

Battery Storage and Grid Modernization Initiatives

Alongside the solar expansion, Platte River is installing a 100-megawatt, four-hour energy storage system adjacent to Black Hollow Sun, with groundbreaking scheduled for next year. The battery system will store excess solar energy and release it during peak demand periods to help stabilize fluctuations from renewable sources.

In a separate collaboration, Platte River and its owner municipalities are developing smaller 5-megawatt battery units totaling 20 megawatts of added power capacity. These distributed storage systems will be positioned closer to local distribution networks, allowing individual utilities like Loveland to dispatch energy based on localized supply and demand.

"We're excited at the prospect of adding utility scale storage to Loveland's distribution system because we'll be able to make a significant impact to localized peak demand in areas where we need it most, as well as better support Platte River," Bromley said.

The utilities are also developing virtual power plant technology to coordinate rooftop solar panels, electric vehicles, home batteries and smart thermostats. This system will aggregate distributed energy resources to reduce demand and increase supply during grid stress events.

Regional Market Participation to Reduce Costs

Platte River joined the Western Energy Imbalance Service market in 2023 and will join Southwest Power Pool's Regional Transmission Organization in spring 2026, moves designed to reduce costs and facilitate renewable energy integration.

"Joining an energy market allows us to better manage our costs and integrate more renewable energy," Vincent said. "A higher concentration of renewable energy is extremely difficult without a market, and that's why membership is such a critical step for Platte River to achieve our goals."

The utility expects its renewable energy portfolio to grow to more than 300 million megawatt-hours by 2030, though officials acknowledge significant challenges including equipment cost pressures, skilled labor shortages, supply chain delays and increased competition for renewable technologies.

The energy transformation comes as utilities nationwide reevaluate strategies amid rising extreme weather events, wildfires and other natural disasters that can strain aging power infrastructure.

Interested customers can access information about efficiency programs and virtual power plant enrollment opportunities through EfficiencyWorks.org.