The Southern Ute Tribe lives high up on the U.S. Colorado Plateau. They have been there for over 2,000 years. Their 13th-century cliff dwellings and ancient pictographs are a magnet for history buffs. But nowadays the Southern Ute Tribe is warming to solar energy, as part of its strategy to be more in control of day-to-day living.
The Colorado Plateau Is a Natural for Solar Energy
The Colorado plateau climate is hot and dry where the Southern Ute live. Although seasonal rain brings relief for crops, and feeds the mighty rivers of the centennial state. A while back in 2019 the tribal elders gathered and decided it was time to go solar.
But the Southern Ute Tribe was not only warming to solar energy as part of its longing for greater independence. Their people were also grappling with higher energy costs according to environmental group Natural Resources Defense Council. Moreover they were satisfied battery storage had matured sufficiently to light their homes at night off grid.
Tribal Land First as Southern Ute Warm to Solar Energy
The Federal Highway Administration published a report on the project (see link below). The Department of Energy and the tribe each chipped in $1 million for the first stage to reduce grid dependency 10%.
They agreed a site where there were no endangered plants or wild life. But also conveniently nearby their local electrical cooperative. And there they erected their alpha site delivering 1.3 megawatts, via a group-mounted array of 4,000 panels.
The panels delivered 2,772,977 kW electricity for the initial year exceeding expectations. This was 12% more than planned. But the Southern Ute Tribe is already planning the next phase. A total 200 to 300 megawatts are on the cards. The tribe hopes to recover its costs in due course, by selling surplus power back to the utility.
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Preview Image: Ute Mountain Peak from North
