Colorado is no stranger to weather-related disasters and record-breaking storm systems. Strong storms may dump feet of snow, generate destructive wind speeds, or spark a devastating wildfire. Each September, the Federal Emergency Management Agency recognizes National Preparedness Month to educate and empower Americans to take simple steps to prepare for and respond to potential emergencies that could affect us where we live, work, and visit. This year’s theme, “Preparing for Older Adults,” touches how to plan ahead.

Make a Plan. Expecting the unexpected begins with having a plan in place. Coordinate with your family, loved ones, or caregivers to respond quickly in the event of a disaster or weather-related emergency. A plan should include the following:

• Create a support network of family, friends, and others, including caregivers, who can assist you during an emergency. Establish two-way communications, transportation, and living arrangements between you and your care community, especially if power is interrupted. Consider how any pets or service animals can continue receiving care, if necessary.
• Make sure at least one person in your support network has an extra key to your home, knows where you keep your emergency supplies, and knows how to use life-saving equipment or administer medicine. 
• If you undergo routine treatments at a clinic or hospital, find out their emergency plans and work with them to identify backup service providers. 
• If you rely on any devices for physical assistance, plan on how you will have those with you during an evacuation, if required. 

Build a Kit. Gather supplies for several days, considering your unique needs. Include items such as food and water; medications and medical supplies; any necessary medical documentation, such as Medicaid, Medicare, and other insurance cards; pet supplies; batteries and chargers; etc. You may also include items such as a first aid kit, flashlight, and/or radio. Remember to keep your kit updated. 

Electronic Benefits. If you depend on Social Security or other regular benefits, switching to electronic payments is a simple, important way to protect yourself financially. You can sign up for direct deposit by calling  800-333-1795 or visiting www.godirect.gov/gpw. 

For more information on National Preparedness Month, including sample emergency communications plans, organizations you can volunteer with during disasters, and more, visit www.ready.gov. 

It is hard to believe we are already entering the fall season. Summer flew by while your cooperative employees were hard at work on a number of fronts — improving service, working toward an energy future outlined in Our Cooperative Roadmap, and managing the tremendous growth in our communities.

We spent much of the summer finalizing our power supply portfolio — one that will provide members with a mix of traditional and low-carbon power and storage solutions. The break from our current power supplier will allow significant freedom and flexibility, representing the rapidly changing energy industry, in a reasonable time frame, as opposed to waiting until the end of the decade.  

We are blessed to have a strong mix of residential, commercial, and industrial members in our small 900-square mile service territory, as well as consistent and significant growth. Our system’s diversity means we are a highly desirable partner for companies wishing to locate here and work with United Power to deploy new and innovative technologies.

The future is not just about adding more generation — although necessary to meet growing demand — but also operating our system differently (and more efficiently) than the past. For example, five years after launching what was Colorado’s largest battery storage facility at the time, we have entered an agreement to deploy nearly 80 additional megawatts of battery storage across our footprint, one of the nation’s first dispersed storage projects. This will allow us to charge the batteries when energy costs are low and reduce the demand on our system during peak hours. 

The rise in electric vehicle sales has led to a curious conversation that today’s grid cannot handle the load without massive investments in infrastructure or significant control options. We have among the highest penetrations of EVs and plug-in hybrids in the nation. Here at United Power, we constantly monitor our transformers and energy consumption, proactively managing and improving our system in advance of challenges. Each year, we strategically plan our maintenance to target the worst performing feeders — those lines supporting our members in their neighborhoods — and carefully focus our investments. Your Board of Directors not only supports these activities but works closely with management to ensure we are making the right investments to keep this most critical infrastructure strong. 

This is not to say there will never be outages. Sadly, critters, crashes, storms, and lightning wreak havoc on electric grids, no matter how well built. United Power crews work diligently through some of the most terrible conditions to restore power quickly — and safely. The addition of our Carbon Valley Service Center in 2019 has also allowed us to cut down outage response times in our western territory.

We continue to lead the nation in residential solar installations and support members who want to add solar, as well as storage. Last year, the Colorado Solar and Storage Association recognized United Power as a Solar & Storage Champion for its member interconnection process and rooftop solar saturation. 

We do caution members to be selective in choosing their solar contractor. Several door-to-door salespeople have been reported using unscrupulous tactics, including lies and fabrications, to sell their services. Be leery of any representative mentioning United Power. Our team is available to provide unbiased information and all the tools you need to make the right decision when it comes to solar. Simply call us at 303-637-1300 or visit Going Solar.

As a United Power member-owner, you have a special relationship with the cooperative. Please feel free to reach out to me personally with any questions or comments. I appreciate the honor to serve you.

Enjoy our beautiful fall weather.

Output from 10 MW Solar System Added to Cooperative Power Mix

Brighton, CO – United Power, Inc. (United Power), an electric cooperative serving Colorado’s northern Front Range, and OneEnergy announce the signing of a power purchase agreement on Aug. 17. Under the 25-year agreement, United Power will receive all the output of OneEnergy’s planned Overland Solar project beginning in 2024.

“This agreement is attractive because it leverages solar production right here in the cooperative’s service territory,” stated Mark A. Gabriel, President and CEO of United Power. “The 10 megawatt (MW) project will be directly tied into one of the co-op’s existing substations. That means clean, renewable power will be generated nearby and delivered to United Power members.”

OneEnergy develops solar energy projects across the United States for community solar, distributed generation, and large utility-scale project segments. OneEnergy is based in Seattle, WA, and has offices in Wisconsin, Washington, D.C., Oregon, and locally in Boulder, CO. When siting and building new renewable facilities, they work closely with all stakeholders – utility companies, neighbors, and other interested parties – to build projects that best serve consumers’ needs.

“We are honored to partner with United Power on their journey to deliver more renewable, affordable energy to their members. With the addition of the Overland Solar project to their portfolio, they are leading the way to a cleaner energy future for electric cooperatives,” said Gavin Berg, Vice President of Development at OneEnergy. 

The Overland Solar project will be located north of Hudson and will feed directly into United Power’s distribution system. The project will produce 10 MW of noncarbon energy. Large energy projects like Overland Solar not only provide an economical energy source, but also generate tax revenues for the local community.

United Power serves nearly 110,000 meters and maintains and operates over 6,500 miles of distribution line. The 900-square mile service territory wraps around the north and west borders of the Denver International Airport. It includes the north and northeast metropolitan development corridors along Interstate 25, Interstate 76, State Highway 85, and E-470 and the Golden Gate and Coal Creek canyons, two of Colorado’s most iconic and historic mountain canyons. As a result of its geographic location, United Power’s system is experiencing significant demand and energy growth, averaging approximately 6% annually.

United Power is building a power portfolio ahead of leaving its current power supplier on May 1, 2024. The cooperative recently announced agreements with Whetstone Power LLC, Guzman Energy, and Ameresco for portfolio assets related to this exit. To learn more about United Power’s power supply transition, visit www.unitedpower.com/powersupply.

About United Power

United Power is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative, delivering electricity to homes, farms, and businesses throughout Colorado’s northern Front Range. The cooperative is one of the fastest-growing electric co-ops in the nation, and in June 2021 joined the elite ranks of cooperatives serving more than 100,000 meters. The 900-square mile service territory extends from the mountains of Coal Creek and Golden Gate Canyon, along the I-25 corridor and Carbon Valley region, to the farmlands of Brighton, Hudson, and Keenesburg. United Power is also a founding member of the NextGen Cooperative Alliance, which is dedicated to expanding the power supply and procurement options available to distribution co-ops and reforming the traditional generation and transmission business model. For more information about United Power, visit www.unitedpower.com or follow the cooperative on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.

About OneEnergy

OneEnergy’s mission is to fight climate change by making clean energy the number one electricity choice for consumers and utilities. With a 4+ GW pipeline across 19 states, OneEnergy is a leading developer, owner, and operator of solar and energy storage projects across the United States. The company has developed and sold 122 project sites, totaling more than 1.2GW of assets, in its 14-year history. OneEnergy is committed to elevating people and empowering communities to create a sustainable energy future. The company is based in Seattle, WA, with offices in Madison, WI; Boulder, CO; Portland, OR; and Washington, D.C. 

###
 

Cooperative Will Receive Full 30 MW of Output for 25 Years

United Power, Inc. (United Power), an electric cooperative serving Colorado’s northern Front Range, and Whetstone Power LLC (Whetstone) announce the signing of a power purchase agreement on July 27. Under the 25-year agreement, United Power will receive all the output of Whetstone’s Solar of Alamosa project beginning in May 2024.

“United Power is excited to commit to purchase the power generated by this proven solar project, at an attractive and stable price,” stated Mark A. Gabriel, President and CEO of United Power. “United Power will be able to immediately add 30 MW of renewable energy to our power portfolio, without having to go through the process of developing a new greenfield generation facility. The mix of power that cooperative members receive will be cleaner and more economical from day one of this contract.”

Whetstone and funds managed by Rosemawr Management acquired the 30 MW-ac Solar of Alamosa project in June 2022. Located in Alamosa in Colorado’s San Luis Valley, the innovative project used concentrated solar technology when it was initially developed in 2012. The facility’s current panels, inverters, and other components are scheduled to be replaced and modernized throughout 2024 to achieve optimum power output going forward.

“We are proud of the opportunity to serve United Power and the long-term partnership we have developed to provide renewable energy from the Solar of Alamosa facility,” said Collin Franceschi, Whetstone founding partner.

The solar project has been producing clean, renewable power for more than a decade, converting solar energy to electricity on one of Colorado’s highest elevation plateaus. The installation boasts that, at an elevation of approximately 7,500 feet above sea level, it receives some of the highest irradiance in the country.

“Rosemawr continues to be excited about the opportunities in renewable energy, and we very much look forward to this next chapter for the Solar of Alamosa facility with United Power,” said Josh Herlands, Rosemawr’s Head of Renewable Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure.

United Power serves nearly 110,000 meters and maintains and operates over 6,500 miles of distribution line. The 900-square mile service territory wraps around the north and west borders of the Denver International Airport. It includes the north and northeast metropolitan development corridors along Interstate 25, Interstate 76, State Highway 85, and E-470 and the Golden Gate and Coal Creek canyons, two of Colorado’s most iconic and historic mountain canyons. As a result of its geographic location, United Power’s system is experiencing significant demand and energy growth, averaging approximately 6% annually.

United Power is building a power portfolio ahead of leaving its current power supplier on May 1, 2024. The cooperative recently announced agreements with Guzman Energy and Ameresco for portfolio assets related to this exit. To learn more about United Power’s power supply transition, visit Power Supply. 

About United Power

United Power is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative, delivering electricity to homes, farms, and businesses throughout Colorado’s northern Front Range. The cooperative is one of the fastest-growing electric co-ops in the nation, and in June 2021 joined the elite ranks of cooperatives serving more than 100,000 meters. The 900-square mile service territory extends from the mountains of Coal Creek and Golden Gate Canyon, along the I-25 corridor and Carbon Valley region, to the farmlands of Brighton, Hudson, and Keenesburg. United Power is also a founding member of the NextGen Cooperative Alliance, which is dedicated to expanding the power supply and procurement options available to distribution co-ops and reforming the traditional generation and transmission business model. For more information about United Power, visit www.unitedpower.com or follow the cooperative on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.

About Whetstone Power

Whetstone Power shapes and facilitates the sustainable energy transition one project at a time through project development, asset management, and advisory services. Whetstone thrives on solving complex problems by leveraging the experience of its leadership to provide comprehensive and unique solutions to solve utility, institutional, commercial, and industrial customer energy supply and infrastructure needs. This includes solar, storage, and conventional generation assets in both greenfield development and project redevelopment opportunities. For more information, visit www.whetstonepower.com; and for inquiries, please contact collin@whetstonepower.com.

About Rosemawr Management

Rosemawr Management is an established investment firm focused on the sustainable infrastructure, municipal, not-for-profit, and charter school sectors. Rosemawr was founded in 2008 and currently has approximately $1.3 billion in assets under management. The firm's solar project portfolio currently includes investments in over 100 sustainable infrastructure energy projects located across 14 states, plus numerous investments across property assessed clean energy (PACE), wind energy, and other technologies. For more information, visit www.rosemawr.com; and for inquiries, please contact sustainable@rosemawr.com.

###

United Power is pleased to announce the hiring of Robin Z. Meidhof to the newly created position of Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Counsel. 

“Robin brings a uniquely well-suited background to the cooperative, especially as we move forward into our new energy future,” said Mark A. Gabriel, United Power President and CEO. “Her background with nearly every legal aspect of utility operations is complemented by her professional experience working with some of the most powerful regulatory agencies in our industry.”

Meidhof is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law, and has extensive regulatory, policy, and in-house counsel experience in the utility industry. Following several years as an attorney in the Office of Enforcement, Division of Investigations, for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in Washington, D.C., she served as Legal and Policy Advisor to FERC Commissioner Tony Clark. Meidhof then served as Senior Attorney for Southern California Edison Company, leading a wide range of regulatory proceedings before the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC). Most recently, she served as the Deputy Attorney General of the Revenue and Utilities Section of the Colorado Office of the Attorney General, where she helped drive innovative leadership initiatives and led a team of legal professionals who represent the Department of Revenue, Trial Staff at the Colorado PUC, the Property Tax Administrator, Division of Housing, and all statewide clients in bankruptcy matters. 

“United Power is honored to have such a consummate professional join our executive team. Robin will help us represent the interests of all cooperative members as we depart our power supplier in May of 2024,” stated Gabriel. “The cooperative has experienced rapid growth in recent years, and over this time, our need for Robin’s level of expertise has become increasingly apparent. I know that she is the right person to help move us forward as we exit our current wholesale power contract and acquire lower cost, cleaner energy for our members.”