2-Megawatt Solar Farm Approved for Site Near Berthoud Despite Neighbor Concerns
Larimer County Planning Commission unanimously approved a 2-megawatt solar facility on 28 acres along Highway 287 near Berthoud on October 15, advancing the project to final county commissioner review despite concerns from adjacent property owners about noise impacts on horses and deteriorating neighborhood roads.
The USS Welch Solar Facility will occupy a 29.3-acre site in the bend of Highway 287, with solar panels covering approximately 12.3 acres. United States Solar will lease the land from property owner Mary Schwartz, whose family has farmed the area for generations.
The facility qualifies for Larimer County's 1041 permit process because it exceeds the 5-acre threshold established in the county's Land Use Code. Projects triggering this review face more rigorous scrutiny than standard development applications and must demonstrate compliance with statewide interest criteria.
Equestrian Facility Raises Operational Concerns
Flying R Ranch, an equestrian boarding facility located approximately 200 feet north of the proposed solar array, raised multiple concerns during public testimony. Justin and Kathy Riley, who own and operate the facility, expressed worry about noise impacts on horses and construction traffic through the adjacent Midway Acres neighborhood.
"Horses can hear at a 7 decibel level," Justin Riley said during public comment. "My main concern is I have young horses who may have never even heard just the highway noise that we do get. But now we're going to hear a constant level of probably about that 48 to even 45 decibels."
Riley trains young horses for competition, with individual animals representing potential earnings of $10,000 or more per show. He worried that unfamiliar sounds from inverters and transformers could frighten animals still learning to tolerate environmental stimuli.
However, county environmental planner Leah Schneider noted that ambient noise from Highway 287 already measures between 60 and 78 decibels at the property line, significantly exceeding any sound the solar facility would generate. Inverters and transformers would produce approximately 29 decibels at 200 feet from the equipment, according to calculations using standard acoustic attenuation formulas.
"The highway is still registering higher noise than an unmitigated solar field at this point," Schneider said.
Small-scale solar facilities typically produce sound levels of 45-65 decibels at one meter from inverters, dropping to 35-50 decibels at 10 meters, according to National Renewable Energy Laboratory research. At property boundaries, noise levels generally fall below ambient rural levels of 30-40 decibels.
Road Condition Concerns Prompt Design Changes
Several public commenters raised concerns about construction traffic damaging roads in the Midway Acres neighborhood, which property owners maintain privately. County engineering staff flagged deteriorating road conditions during the review process.
US Solar modified its construction plan in response, coordinating with Xcel Energy to minimize use of secondary access through the neighborhood. The facility's primary access will remain off Hog Wild Road in the northeast corner of the property.
"We are exploring options with Xcel to potentially adjust the location of some of that equipment so that access in that area may not be needed," said Haley Ballantine, project developer for US Solar.
Construction will last approximately four months, with the loudest activity occurring during seven to ten days of pile driving. Once operational, the facility will require only bimonthly visits during the first few years and twice annually thereafter.
Kelly Thompson, general manager of nearby Jellystone Park campground, testified that increased activity could force the business to implement 24-hour security coverage, representing "a significant investment in upgraded security systems, hiring and training dedicated security personnel."
Community Solar Program to Benefit Local Subscribers
The USS Welch project will connect directly to Xcel Energy's distribution system rather than feeding power into the broader transmission grid, meaning energy generated will serve local consumers in the Berthoud area.
US Solar expects the facility will operate as a community solar program, allowing residents and businesses to subscribe for discounted electricity rates and receive credits on their energy bills. Community solar programs provide access to renewable energy for customers who cannot install rooftop systems due to financial constraints, rental status, or unsuitable roof conditions.
The 2-megawatt facility will generate enough electricity to power approximately 400 to 500 homes annually, based on average Colorado household consumption of 700 kilowatt-hours per month, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration data.
Landscaping Requirements Under Review
The Planning Commission approved the project subject to 41 conditions addressing engineering, health, construction permitting, and post-construction requirements. Several conditions relate to landscape screening and visual buffering, though specific requirements will be determined during the technical review process following commissioner approval.
Ballantine explained that proposed landscape screening conflicts with maintenance requirements for the Handy Ditch, which bisects the property and requires periodic burning for vegetation control. The ditch company requested a 25-foot buffer on each side of its easement, limiting placement options for trees and shrubs.
"The landscape screening as it's shown right now does not really fit," Ballantine said. "There's better ways to go about this if the screening is going to be used for visual impacts and noise impacts specifically."
Byron Kominec, owner of Jack Solar Garden in Boulder County and a Boulder County planning commissioner, urged the commission to reconsider extensive landscaping requirements. He noted that maintaining vegetative screening around his 1.2-megawatt facility proves expensive and time-consuming.
"If it's the intention to require having a vegetative barrier around the perimeter of a solar array, it's important to have it clear how many years somebody is going to be operating and maintaining it," Kominec said.
The commission ultimately decided to address landscaping details during the technical review process rather than imposing specific requirements in the approval conditions.
Decommissioning Requirements Provide Financial Safeguards
Commissioner John Slutsky questioned whether adequate financial protections exist to ensure proper facility removal at the end of its operational life. The project's lease agreement runs 35 years, though the power purchase agreement with Xcel Energy typically spans 20 years.
County staff confirmed that Larimer County requires a decommissioning plan and financial security before construction begins. The county has established this protocol for two previous small solar projects in the county.
"There's process for it and there is a financial security attached to that, also some success criteria and process," said Scott Bennett, county environmental planner. "Usually that is broken up in two parts. One for the initial establishment of vegetation and then the second one for the actual tear down of the equipment afterwards at the end of life."
National averages for solar decommissioning range from $5,000 to $15,000 per acre, suggesting costs of $100,000 to $375,000 for a facility this size. However, solar panels, racking, and other equipment retain significant salvage value due to recyclable materials including aluminum, glass, and silicon, potentially offsetting 25-50% of gross removal costs.
Decision Moves to County Commissioners
The Planning Commission voted 7-0 to recommend approval of the 1041 permit, with the project now advancing to the Board of County Commissioners for final decision. The commissioners will hold a public hearing before making their determination, expected within the next 60 days.
Commissioner Connor Duffy emphasized that the commission's role focused specifically on land use impacts rather than operational concerns governed by other agencies.
"What we're looking at here is land use code issues, septic tank water and right of ways traffic," Duffy said. "The biggest one that I have is that traffic concern. However, I think it is an opportunity for the county to be able to get another emergency response pull out near that facility."
The project represents part of a broader expansion of distributed generation solar facilities throughout Northern Colorado, supported by Senate Bill 207 passed by the Colorado legislature in 2024. That legislation established programs designed specifically for solar projects of 5 megawatts or less, connecting directly to local distribution systems rather than the regional transmission grid.
The Board of County Commissioners will schedule a public hearing on the USS Welch Solar Facility 1041 permit in the coming weeks. Meeting schedules and materials are available at larimer.gov.