Mindy Leary, Gilpin County. On November 5, 2019, the Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners met at the Gilpin County Courthouse for their regular meeting and responded to continuing community concerns about FAA diverting their routes over Gilpin County, a liquor store tasting application and presentation about community solar gardens. Commissioner Ron Engels, Madam Chair Commissioner Linda Isenhart and Commissioner Gail Watson were present.

Xcel Energy representative, Preston Gibson, presented information concerning the Community Solar Gardens Program. “This is a program where we pay incentives to buy renewable energy credits to third-party constructors who would actually build theses solar farms. They would find subscribers who could be someone who maybe didn’t want solar panels on their rooftop, maybe they couldn’t do it because they might be renting.”

The program’s popularity enables Xcel to give 5% of the energy to lower-income residents. But it wasn’t working well due to finding customers so they decided to use the solar gardens exclusively for low-income residents. In total it will provide about $160 offset on an energy bill for about 1,350 people.

Counties adjacent to counties with this program are also eligible which will include Gilpin County. “Based on the adjacency eligibility there are a total of 11 counties that can participate. We expect the solar farms to be completed by 2021. They should be operable and having subscribers at that time,” said Gibson.

Watson responded, “It sounds like a wonderful program that we need to know more about. I’m thinking specifically for Gold Mountain Village in Central City. There are some issues there for low-income residents.”  

Gibson said, “It may be that we can work with your county for some energy outreach.” It’s hard to know what the level of participation will be throughout the state. Isenhart said, “It’s good to keep talking about this and hopefully we can get something going by 2021.” 

After a recess the room reconvened and residents filled up the seats to attend the work session about the Denver Metroplex Environmental Assessment letter to the FAA about airspace over Gilpin County. “We have made some progress with talking to legislatures for our group. Just yesterday a representative for Cory Gardner said they would go ahead and forward our letter to the FAA. That’s some good news. I spoke with the administrator for the Northwest Mountain Region,” said Isenhart.

Donna Okray Parman presented the group’s concerns saying, “Gilpin residents refuse increased flight traffic. Our members will show up for meetings, protests, television interviews. If the people only knew about this, all of Gilpin knew about this, the FAA wouldn’t have gotten this far. We are desperate. We are David. We can take Goliath down.”

Commissioner Engels responded, “Most of you probably haven’t seen the amount of effort and energy that Linda has poured into this project since you brought it front and center, getting in touch with the right people who can help us move a solution forward.” 

Okray Parman said she was deeply grateful for the work they’ve done and asked for a copy of the letter to be sent to the FAA. The commissioners responded that they have two drafts and will make copies of the final letter available when it is ready. 

(Originally published in the November 14, 2019, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)