PUEBLO, Colo., August 24, 2020 – Black Hills Energy announced today the expansion of its community solar gardens program through the issuance of a request for proposals for 2.5-megawatts (MW) of new projects to serve its Southern Colorado customers. This includes 500-kilowatts (kW) dedicated to serving low-income customers.

With this expansion, Black Hills Energy will have 12.6 MW of solar energy capacity on its Southern Colorado system by the end of 2021, with 2.5 MW dedicated to serving low-income customers. This represents enough energy to supply the average annual electricity needs of more than 2,800 homes.

“Our community solar gardens program allows all customers to benefit from increased access to clean energy and its associated cost savings,” said Devin Moeller, Black Hills Energy’s renewable energy manager. “Through this expansion, we’re making Southern Colorado’s abundant solar power resources more accessible to customers who may not have the ability to invest in a rooftop solar array.”

“We’re very pleased to grow our low-income solar program,” continued Moeller. “By doing so, we’re creating a meaningful way to help lower energy bills for income-qualified residential customers and local non-profit service providers.”

Subscribers to a community solar garden may purchase and own one or more “shares” of the facility and receive a credit on their electric bill proportional to their share of electricity produced by the system, Moeller explained.

Submissions to this request for proposals are due to Black Hills Energy by Sept. 25, 2020 by 5 p.m. Learn more at www.blackhillsenergy.com/colorado-solar-programs