Project Design

Integrating agrivoltaics with small-scale farming


A 1 MW community solar installation on 5 acres of active farmland — generating clean energy for local farms and households while keeping land in agricultural production and demonstrating a replicable model for rural Colorado.

Community subscriber model

Energy benefits that flow back to the community

The project operates as a community subscriber model. Rather than selling power to a distant utility, it routes financial benefits directly to participating local households and businesses through reduced electricity costs.

Subscribers are expected to receive a 15–20% reduction in electricity costs — roughly $40,000–$54,000 in total annual savings across the subscriber pool.

Anticipated 75+ subscribers, including small farms, farm-dependent businesses, farmworker households, and mobile-home residents. “We have been working with landlords and housing organizations in Paonia and Hotchkiss and have found strong support for residents’ enrollment.

Who the project prioritizes
Local farms
Agricultural operations in Delta County reduce operating costs directly
Farmworker households
Low- and moderate-income households receive weighted access to savings
Small businesses
Agricultural businesses and rural enterprises in the North Fork Valley
Nonprofits
Community-serving organizations whose budgets benefit from lower energy costs
Project design

What we're building — and what it will do

A 1 MW agrivoltaic installation on 5 acres of working farmland at Thistle Whistle Farm, Hotchkiss — designed as both an energy system and a living research site.

Core mission
1 MW / 5 acres
Energy and farming on the same land
Agrivoltaic solar array at Thistle Whistle Farm. Crops grow beneath and around the panels — no farmland displaced. Grid interconnection through DMEA.
Community benefit
1,937 MWh
Energy equity
Estimated annual generation — equivalent to the usage of ~70 small farms. Cost savings returned to subscribers, weighted toward low- and moderate-income households.
Community benefit
15–20%
New farm economics
Expected subscriber savings on electricity costs — $40,000–$54,000 annually across the pool. New revenue pathways for local agricultural producers.
Agrivoltaic best practices
Document system design and crop performance to support replication by other farms
Water conservation research
Partial shading may reduce crop water demand by 15–30% in semi-arid conditions
Wildlife & habitat
Monitor wildlife corridors and support habitat enhancement under and around the installation
Pollinator management
Demonstrate pollinator-friendly vegetation practices beneath the array
Crop yield research
Study microclimatic effects of partial shading on yields in Western Colorado's semi-arid conditions
Impact estimates based on a 1 MW system using Colorado's 2024 average capacity factor of 25.6% and statewide average residential consumption of 674 kWh/month. Actual figures will vary based on final system design and utility rates.
Where we are

Development timeline

The project has cleared its major technical milestones. The remaining work is capital assembly.

2024–2025
DOE Community Power Accelerator Prize (Rounds 1 & 2)

A North Fork Valley team led by the Colorado Farm & Food Alliance was awarded $200,000 through the U.S. Department of Energy Community Power Accelerator Prize to advance multiple community solar projects in the region.

Of this funding, $60,000 was allocated to the Thistle Whistle Community Solar project, supporting preliminary engineering, site studies, and early-stage development.

Additional early funding for Thistle Whistle Community Solar includes:

  • Kenney Family Foundation (2025): $15,000 secured
  • Rocky Mountain Farmers' Union Co-op Development Board (2025): $7,000 secured

These funds enabled the project to move through initial feasibility and pre-development.

2025
Engineering, interconnection & construction partner secured
Engineering and preliminary environmental assessment completed. Interconnection agreement with DMEA signed. Sunsense Solar committed as construction partner. Power Purchase Agreement in final stages.
Now — Early 2026
Final capital stack assembly
Total project cost: $2.98 million. The project qualifies for a 50% Investment Tax Credit captured as Direct Pay — covering approximately $1.49M. The remaining $1.49M is the active financing target, sought through a combination of bridge loans, grants, and mission-aligned capital.
Construction must begin by July 4, 2026 or finish by Jan 1, 2027 for the project to qualify for the Investment Tax Credit — a key component of the financing structure.
2026–2027
Construction & operation
Installation of the 1 MW agrivoltaic array at Thistle Whistle Farm. Grid interconnection with DMEA. Community subscriber program opens. Research monitoring begins with CSU Rogers Mesa.