Cortez, Colo., October 5, 2026 – The cooperative partnership of San Miguel Power Association (SMPA), Empire Electric Association (EEA), Gunnison County Electric Association (GCEA), and San Luis Valley Rural Electric Cooperative (SLVREC) has agreed to purchase power from Valley Range Energy Park as part of Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association’s Bring Your Own Resource (BYOR) program. If the project is approved by Montezuma County officials, full output solar from Valley Range would supply power equivalent to 40% of 2024 peak demand, and would offer the cooperative partnership an estimated savings totaling more than $20 million.
Valley Range Energy Park is a 125MW solar energy generation facility collocated with a 62.5MW battery energy storage system (BESS) being developed and planned east of Cortez in an unincorporated area of Montezuma County by Accelergen Energy. If approved, the low-cost solar in combination with demand stabilizing BESS would generate revenue for SMPA to help offset rising energy costs and necessary infrastructure improvements that would otherwise need to be recovered through electric rates.
“This project represents a decade of work with our wholesale energy supplier, Tri-State, on a process to allow SMPA to purchase more of its power supply from local, renewable energy sources at a lower cost. If approved, this project allows SMPA to provide a much larger percentage of local, clean, renewable energy to our membership while also generating nearly $5million in savings for SMPA members over the next twenty years. Valley Range is a major win for SMPA and all of the electricity consumers served by the four partner coops” said Brad Zaporski, SMPA Chief Executive Officer and General Manager.
The Valley Range team has been working with the Montezuma County community for nearly two years to ensure the project exceeds safety and land use requirements while delivering the cooperative partnership long-term affordable power. If approved, Valley Range would generate $13.9 million in property tax revenue over the duration of the project. Additionally, the project has donated more than $30,000 to community organizations over two years and has a long-term commitment to support both workforce training and education in Montezuma County once operational.
About Valley Range Energy Park
Valley Range Energy Park is a 125MW solar project and a 62.5MW battery energy storage system (BESS) developed by Accelergen Energy and proposed in unincorporated Montezuma County outside of Cortez, Colo. If approved, Valley Range will contribute new local jobs, $13.9 million in tax revenue to support public services and schools over the duration of the project, increased control over future energy costs, community partnerships, and enhanced energy reliability throughout the county. Valley Range Energy Park is committed to responsible development that supports local energy use and provides benefit to the project community. Learn more at valleyrangeep.com.