KVNF Feature: Local Solar and Agrivoltaics in Delta County
KVNF’s Brody Wilson explores two groundbreaking solar projects reshaping energy and farming in Western Colorado — including Thistle Whistle Community Solar.
In this episode of Local Motion, KVNF reporter Brody Wilson visits two solar projects in Delta County that are redefining how renewable energy and agriculture can share the same land.
Garnet Mesa: Utility-Scale Solar Meets Agriculture
Spanning 380 acres with 175,000 sun-tracking panels, the Garnet Mesa Solar project near Delta is one of Colorado’s largest solar endeavors. What makes it truly innovative is its agrivoltaic design — integrating sheep grazing and irrigation beneath the panels.
Delta County Commissioner Wendell Koontz noted that ensuring the sheep could thrive under the panels was crucial for the project’s approval, keeping irrigated land productive for the next 30 years. Mateusz Pena of DMEA added that their 20-year purchase from the project will stabilize rates for DMEA members — “Solar is in the money.”
Thistle Whistle: Small Farms, Big Ideas
At Thistle Whistle Farm in Hotchkiss, Mark Waltermire and Pete Kolbenschlag are turning traditional solar farming on its head. Their community-owned 5-acre solar garden isn’t just about powering farms — it’s about rethinking how agriculture can benefit from renewable energy.
With raised panels designed to create beneficial shade, the project will host crops like lettuce and tomatoes, addressing issues like excessive heat that have previously reduced yields. Thanks to support from the DOE’s Community Power Accelerator Prize, approximately 70 local farms and workers could see 10–15% savings on power bills.
Policy Meets Grassroots Innovation
Both projects emerged from Delta County’s own energy challenges. DMEA’s departure from Tri-State Generation and Transmission in 2020 — due in part to restrictions on local renewable usage — set the stage for both. Garnet Mesa’s initial rejection over land-use concerns ultimately led to a redesign incorporating agrivoltaics, a change that not only won approval but also inspired Thistle Whistle’s team to act.
What’s Next
Garnet Mesa was slated to go online in summer 2025 after less than a year of construction. Thistle Whistle continues moving toward construction — follow our updates for the latest on the project’s progress.
Reported by Brody Wilson for KVNF — Listen to the full episode on KVNF.org →
