Rural Colorado Co-ops Push for Funding, San Luis Valley Solar Project Ahead
Electric cooperatives in Colorado are rallying, planning to meet with representatives and travel to Washington. Their goal? To urge the new administration to release promised grants for rural electric cooperatives. These cooperatives often struggle with older equipment, less renewable energy use, and fewer financial resources compared to for-profit utilities.
The push for funding comes after President Donald Trump's executive order paused climate and energy spending, affecting billions of dollars meant for rural electric cooperatives. One such cooperative, San Luis Valley, was hit hard. However, in March 2023, the USDA announced it had approved the promised funding for San Luis Valley.
The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act brought hope with its Empowering Rural America (New ERA) and Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) programs. These offer grants and loans for clean energy projects and infrastructure upgrades. Late March saw the USDA announcing the release of the promised funding, but with certain conditions.
In January 2025, San Luis Valley Rural Electric Cooperative was awarded $1.7 million to construct two 1-megawatt solar farms. Eric Eriksen, the cooperative's CEO, serves over 7,500 people across seven rural counties in southern Colorado. Before the end of former President Joe Biden's term, the USDA awarded funding to 49 rural electric co-ops through New ERA and 59 organizations through PACE.
The San Luis Valley Rural Electric Cooperative's funding will help bring clean energy to rural Colorado. The cooperative's CEO, Eric Eriksen, looks forward to the solar farm projects, which will benefit the seven rural counties under their service. The USDA's funding, totaling $1.7 million, is a significant step towards modernizing rural electric cooperatives and promoting renewable energy.
