Developers Pivot Energy and Nautilus Solar Energy have completed a 13-MW community solar portfolio which supplies carbon-free electricity to subscribers in a popular Colorado ski resort region.
The fully operational community solar portfolio includes seven projects spread out in Crowley, Weld and Logan counties. They will deliver a renewables alternative to an estimated 1,700 households and 12 commercial subscribers, including many in the town of Breckenridge.
Nautilus is the long-term owner and operator of the projects, having acquired the portfolio from Pivot in 2020. This represents Nautilus’s first entry into Colorado.
“We are thrilled to see the full completion of these projects,” Tom Hunt, CEO of Pivot Energy, said. “Nautilus has proven to be an excellent partner, and we have made great strides in our shared mission of expanding access to solar power to more communities. As we work on future projects, the benefits to Coloradans will only grow, from supporting construction jobs to positively impacting air quality.”
The solar subscriptions are managed through Pivot Energy’s SunCentral platform, which uses proprietary cloud-based software to provide subscribers with convenient user features such as seamless bill payments, energy production monitoring, and downloadable financial reports. The portfolio is still open for additional subscribers.
Community Solar is a method to bring renewable energy to consumers who either cannot afford rooftop solar on their properties or facilities may be structurally unsuited for it.
Colorado approved community solar legislation back in 2010, perhaps one of the first states to do so.