Porter: More solar, wind projects needed

Rooftop solar is fine as far as it goes (“Solar panels have more than proven themselves,” April 15), but its potential is limited, and we absolutely need more large-scale solar and wind projects. I say bring it on and, in the meantime, appreciate that electric rates from monopoly Xcel and Holy Cross are lower than the Colorado average, which is lower than the national average, which is lower than most of the world.

The author’s reference is flawed; “net metering” does subsidize residential solar from other customers. That subsidy should be reduced but offset by reducing the cost of rooftop solar. Residential solar in the USA costs four times the cost in Australia. Let’s start by following Australia’s lead on permits. No local building permit or inspection is needed for flush mount solar up to 400 square feet. Installers must be certified, as they are here. Utility connection is checked from simple submittals, and many of the utilities don’t even inspect the installation.

Recently, I checked out the 1,000-acre Axial Basin Solar Project next to the power lines between Craig and Meeker. The fenced solar arrays are separated with room for wildlife to keep migrating. A few antelope were calmly grazing around it. These solar farms generate power at one-third the cost of rooftop solar. That’s true climate and environmental and economic justice. East of Delta, the new Garnet Mesa 500-acre solar farm includes big batteries and irrigation for sheep pasture. The 220 MW from these projects will probably triple all the West Slope solar generation installed in the past 20 years.

Customers large and small can participate in clean power w/o rooftop solar by getting heat pumps and EVs and timing their electric use. CORE or CLEER can help folks figure this out.

Fred Porter

Carbondale