United Power And Silicon Ranch Join Forces For New 150 MW Byers Solar Farm Expansion

United Power, Inc., an electric cooperative serving Colorado’s northern front range, has signed a power purchase agreement for a new solar project, the 150-megawatt (MW) Byers Solar Farm. This solar farm will be built in Adams County, about 10 miles northeast of Byers. The project is being developed in partnership with Silicon Ranch, a leading independent power producer focused on renewable energy and community development.

Mark A. Gabriel, President and CEO of United Power, stated “As United Power continues to add to its diverse power portfolio, the Byers Solar Farm illustrates the best-case scenario for local production. Our partnership with Silicon Ranch allows us to build this project with the latest technology and development techniques to optimize the use of the site. Additionally, there are strong financial and environmental incentives for generating and delivering clean, renewable electricity locally.”

He further added, “Byers Solar Farm continues United Power’s march toward energy independence. Since leaving our wholesale power contract on May 1, 2024, United Power has worked to build a power portfolio that both reduces our carbon emissions and stabilizes our costs. Our vision to diversify and hyper-localize power production will pay dividends to cooperative members in an increasingly volatile energy market.”

“Silicon Ranch is honored by the trust and confidence that United Power and its members continue to place in our company to deliver value on their behalf, and we are grateful for the opportunity to expand our relationship and the positive impact we can have together. As we enter our second decade of partnership with United Power, Silicon Ranch looks forward to continuing our meaningful work together by collaborating to help make communities stronger, healthier, and more resilient here in northern Colorado,” said Silicon Ranch Co-Founder and CEO Reagan Farr.

Silicon Ranch will build, own, and operate the Byers Solar Farm, handling its operation and maintenance. United Power will purchase all the energy generated by the facility. As the long-term owner of the site and the land, Silicon Ranch plans to care for the environment by creating a short grass prairie through pre-seeding before construction begins. They are also considering managing sheep grazing on the property as part of their Regenerative Energy® program, which promotes sustainable land use.

This approach has been successfully implemented at other sites, including the Mavericks Solar Farm, which also supplies power to United Power. United Power and Silicon Ranch have a history of collaboration, working together on four previous projects since 2014: Fort Lupton Solar (13 MW), Mavericks Solar (6.5 MW), Platteville Solar (16 MW), and Rattlesnake Solar (6 MW). These projects, all within United Power’s service area, were developed in close coordination with local communities, governments, and landowners to ensure they meet community needs.