The arrays consist of hundreds of convex glass mirrors precisely focusing the sun on smaller mirrors which direct the beam down towards the small PV cells PHOTO: M. Ferree

Concentrated solar refers to the use of mirrors and/or lenses to focus large amounts of light on a smaller area.   In the case of the SolFocus system, concave mirrors are used to concentrate sunlight onto small high efficiency solar cells, this magnification is approximately 500 times the normal amount of light, often referred to as “suns” (i.e. 500 suns).  Right now you are probably remembering those poor ants that you focused your magnifying glass on as a kid and wondering how the solar cells can take the heat.  These are no ordinary cells and are the heart of what sets this system apart. These patented cells are designed to take the high heat created from the 500 suns focused on them, but more importantly according to SolFocus, they allow a concentrated solar array to use approximately 1/1000th the photovoltaic material used in a conventional system. The photovoltaic material in a solar array is expensive, driving a major portion of the cost and is difficult to recycle. Because the majority of these concentrating arrays are glass and aluminum they have a much greater recyclable content than ordinary arrays and require less energy to build, further adding to their environmental friendliness.

Assembly of the major components required a large crew as well as a crane and was carried out on Earth Day. PHOTO: M. Ferree

Just as you learned during your childhood experiments (okay some of us still play with magnifying glasses in the sun) alignment of the focused beam is important.  Since the position of the sun is constantly changing throughout the day, concentrating solar arrays must move or “track” the sun across the sky. To accomplish this, the arrays are mounted on large poles and have computer controlled motors which slowly swing the arrays with the sun each day, keeping them aligned to within one degree of the sun as well as placing them into a protective horizontal position when extremely high winds are measured by the system’s anemometers.

As you can see from the images, these arrays are large and not typically installed for residential use.  They are designed for large commercial or industrial installations. This installation for a residence is unique and came about because Michael Ferree is Vice President of Project Management for Cate Street Capital, an investment firm with interest in SolFocus.  This particular installation will be used by Sol Focus to demonstrate the viability of their systems in our region and its performance will be measured against a more typical 9.66 kilowatt roof mounted photovoltaic system previously installed on the site by Peak Solar to power Ferree’s office building.
According to Tim Klco of Peak Solar, many area businesses and government facilities could benefit from these systems. Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center and Sangre De Cristo Electric have both shown interest in the system although neither has committed to the purchase.

Dave Beaulieu and Tim Klco of Peak Solar Designs affix an assembled array being supported by a crane to the large mounting pole. PHOTO: M. Ferree

This is the first system of it’s kind installed in Colorado, and a first for Salida based Peak Solar.  This installation really demonstrates how green energy can benefit rural communities like Salida.  Not only will fewer energy dollars be sent out of the valley during the lifespan of the installation (estimated to be more than 25 years), but the installation employed a lengthy list of local businesses and individuals;  Peak Solar Designs, G/T Structural Engineers, Kane Builders, Koch Excavating, Marv’s Electric of Salida, Shavano Custom Log Works (crane service), RAC Transport Company and Hard Rock Paving & Redi-mix.

DeChristopher said her son, who did not grow up here, has always been an idealist unafraid to take a stand and do the right thing. She hopes he has the support of others across the nation who share his views because, like any good mom, she’d really hate to see her son go to prison.

DeChristoper also noted her son, who’s studying economics at the University of Utah has an affinity for the wilderness landscapes he was trying to prevent from exploitation. He had been a guide, leading troubled teens deep into Utah’s desert wilderness for Outback, a wilderness therapy program based in Lehi, UT.

Tim DeChristopher participated in the lease auction knowing full well he didn’t have the money or intent to pay for the leases he bid on. There was no pre-screening of bidders and Tim simply walked in and was issued bidding paddle #70. As he drove up the bids on the parcels, oil and gas industry auction veterans became suspicious, the lease auction was halted and DeChistopher was removed and questioned and now faces potential federal charges which could result in prison.

But before he was evicted from the proceedings he won bids totaling $1.7 million on parcels totaling 22,500 acres on land near Arches and Canyonlands National Parks near Moab, UT. DeChristopher’s parcels were among those hotly contested by environmental groups trying to block them from inclusion in the auction.

Now Tim’s busy raising money to both pay for the leases as well as funds to pay for his mounting legal expenses.

His story has been featured on such national news programs outlets as Businessweek Air America’s Rachel Maddow Show, National Public Radios’s Democracy Now, Backpacker magazine, Utah TV, print and radio outlets.

A website has been set up to raise money to help Tim actually purchase the leases and pay for his legal defense.

The deadline for Tim to provide the BLM with a $45,000 downpayment on the land is this Friday, Jan. 9.

Editor’s note: the link in the article to Tim’s website, originally broken, has been fixed. Thanks to Ryan for pointing out our error.

Located just south of Salida in the San Luis Valley, this giant facility has been mystifying valley travelers since going online last year. SunEdison owns the Alamosa Photovoltaic Solar Plant and sells the power to Xcel Energy. The facility helps Xcel, the state’s largest utility, comply with Amendment 37 and the state’s new renewable energy standard. The standard, signed into law by Gov. Ritter in 2007, requires that utilities like Xcel obtain 20 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2020.

“With wind farms across the plains, new biodiesel and ethanol plants, the National Renewable Energy Lab, innovative businesses like SunEdison and Xcel Energy and this solar energy project, Colorado really is the renewable energy capital of the Nation,” says Senator Ken Salazar.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory rates the San Luis Valley as having the best solar power conditions in Colorado. The plant creates enough clean energy to power nearly 1,500 homes a year operating at full capacity, which is unrealistic. In reality, the plant will power roughly 5000 homes based on average household energy needs. In addition, the plant generates enough clean energy to remove the carbon emissions produced by 2,840 cars driving 12,500 miles annually or roughly 710,000,000 miles over 20 years. Since going online in 2007, the boom has continued around the world, and already this plant is being dwarfed in size, capacity and efficiency by new facilities.

The solar power plant near the substation is unique in that it consists of three distinct types of solar technologies: single axis tracking array, fixed-mount array and dual axis tracking array. According to Karen Hyde, vice president of resource planning and acquisition at Xcel Energy, “This is a unique facility – three types of solar technologies have been deployed in parallel. Performance monitoring will allow us to study the system’s performance and evaluate the relative benefits of each technology over the system’s expected 20-year lifespan.”

A German partner is doing much of the monitoring and comparative studies. The system can be remotely-controlled from their offices in Germany. It’s truly amazing to watch these massive dual axis arrays, the largest in the world, make micro-movements to meet the optimum angle of sun and earth.

Building the solar power plant created about 50 temporary jobs in Alamosa and the San Luis Valley. Now, however, it is run by a small maintenance crew located in Alamosa. This may have been one of the most striking parts of the day; total silence. Unlike any other form of power generation, the plant sits silent. It quietly gathers power almost of its own volition.

Stepping back onto the big yellow dinosaur to leave was something that will likely be lost on my traveling companions when they are my age, but hopefully one day they will recall the black diesel smoke that was about to cloud the humble sun farmers’ domain. As I stepped back on the bus I took one more picture of almost 30,000 solar panels. Looking to the east, the sand dunes rose majestically to meet the mighty snow-capped Sangres, and other than the chatter of the low-rising tour group, all I could hear was the breeze. The smell was intoxicating however, it was the fresh scent of a new energy economy on the horizon.

Follow-up

If you go to the plant you will find literally no information, simply tall cyclone fences surrounding the facility. Through the excellent work of Samantha Lane and Carrie Gordina, two Salida Middle School 5th-grade teachers, the tour was assembled with only slight headaches and a few phone calls. Once inside, the lonely crew seemed sincerely thrilled to show off the facility. I would guess tours for groups will be more easily arranged in the future as the plant settles into routine operation. If anyone else has had another experience at the Alamosa SunEdison plant, please comment below. Thanks again to Samantha, Carrie and Dewey for your time, patience and excellent work putting this trip together. My youngest son, as well as the entire 5th grade, is better for it.

See also: Alamosa solar plant’s success helps prove resource’s viability on large scale (Denver Post)

Brown’s Canyon

On this issue, the candidates’ positions are pretty clear cut on whether or not to pursue federal Wilderness designation. The short story: Mallett for; Holman against. Backstory: both men consider themselves sportsman. Mallett still actively hunts and fishes. Holman said he hasn’t hunted for a while because he simply found it increasingly hard to pull the trigger. Mallett says the 21,000 acres proposed wilderness provides key winter habitat for many large animal species, includes unique geologic formations and offers one of the few low-elevation wilderness areas in the Rockies. Holman says Wilderness permanently restricts access to public land for those not able-bodied enough to access it without motorized assistance.

Energy

Both candidates conceptually support development of renewable energy in Chaffee County but they differ in emphasis. Although Holman attended, Mallett had the higher profile at last month’s Sustainability Showcase hosted by Colorado Mountain College. Mallett also converted an old VW bug to electric power. Mallett also takes credit for installing solar panels at the county fairgrounds, establishing a local Energy Star program and working with the private sector to evaluate and develop biodiesel, woody biomass, solar photovoltaic (PV) farms, wind generation and low-head hydropower.

Mallett has noticeably been absent from all the public meetings by the folks up Chalk Creek Canyon who are pursuing development of a geothermal energy project. Holman has been at them all and expressed optimism and encouragement for geothermal energy development. Mount Princeton Geothermal LLC shows promise for becoming the first geothermal energy project in the state. Early modelling indicates geothermal-generated power could provide enough electricity to supply most households in Chaffee County. Holman favors encouraging the development of renewable energy through incentives vs. government funding.

Fred Henderson, Chalk Creek canyon resident, partner and leading proponent of the geothermal project, led the discussion and fielded questions during a public meeting held Sept. 9 at Frontier Ranch.

Henderson explained what he called the perfect storm that makes the development of geothermal power more viable today than ever before. The perfect storm ingredients include an energy marketplace increasingly seeking alternatives to fossil fuels and a state law mandating that the state’s largest utilities obtain 20 percent their power from renewable energy sources by 2020.

In addition, advances in technology make it easier to harvest geothermal energy. Current projections envision a 10-megawatt power plant that could provide electricity to upwards of 4,000 homes. Initial cost to build such a plant is estimated at $30 – $40 million.

After more than 90-minutes of highly technical reporting from experts from the Colorado School of Mines and the Colorado Geological Survey, residents asked decidedly non-technical questions about the prospect of a geothermal energy plant becoming their new neighbor.

Among those in the audience were Republican county commissioner candidates Dennis Giese and Frank Holman. In comments after the meeting, Holman said he believed the project could be “done well” and was really excited and supportive of it. “It’s a great example of private enterprise working to create clean, sustainable, alternative energy,” Holman said.

Also in the audience was Joani Matranga, Western Regional Representative for the Governor’s Energy Office and Dave Blackwell a renowned geothermal researcher from Southern Methodist University’s Geothermal Lab.

Neighbors were less concerned with the benefits of developing renewable energy for the valley than possible impacts to the tranquility of their neighborhood and property values. Questions centered around whether further geologic testing and the eventual geothermal facility would degrade private geothermal and water wells. A number of others asked about possible noise and light pollution as well as the aesthetics of the facility.

Steve Lundgren, speaking on behalf of Frontier Ranch/Young Life, assured the 50 residents at the meeting that the owners and managers of the Christian camp had run Henderson “through the hoops” and were satisfied the project would not create noise or light pollution and would be constructed to be architecturally “harmonious” with the mountain environment. Frontier Ranch is a partner in Mount Princeton Geothermal LLC, the company trying to bring the project to life. In addition to Frontier Ranch and Henderson, other partners in the energy development company are Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort and John “Hank” Held, whose grandmother bought the family cabin in the hot springs—rich canyon west of Nathrop.

Next step for the project is to drill four to six additional test holes to hone in on the best, economically viable, deep geothermal reservoir targets. The drill holes will be 4-1/2 inches in diameter and 300 feet deep. Henderson assured the audience that once testing was complete, there would be little sign the drilling ever took place except for a small cement plug over the hole. Neighbors have until late October to formally object to the test drilling.

Could the same forces that heat the water at Mount Princeton and Cottonwood hot springs resorts, be harnessed to power nearly half of all Chaffee County households?

That’s the question being posed by a local development and investors group in tandem with researchers from the Colorado School of Mines.

A team of students from Mines will be in the area through the month, collecting detailed geophysical information to better understand the area’s deep gravity, magnetic and seismic profile as it relates to the deep underground reservoir potential for geothermal energy.

If the remaining geophysical data continues to point in the right direction, a $40 million geothermal power transmission plant could be built in or near Chalk Creek Canyon, a hotbed of geothermal activity along CR 162 in Chaffee County.

The envisioned geothermal power plant could generate 10 megawatts of electricity, enough to power roughly 10,000 homes.

Heading up the research and potential development of such a facility is Mount Princeton Geothermal LLC. The speculative renewable energy company recently held an open house at Frontier Ranch to explain what’s known and what’s yet to understand about the capacity for local geothermal electricity.

An all-star cast of some of the state’s most knowledgeable experts on geothermal potential turned out for the mini-conference at Frontier Ranch. Guests included a team of researchers from the Colorado School of Mines Department of Geophysics; Joani Matranga, Western Regional Representative for the Governor’s Energy Office; and Michael Hayter, Director Geothermal Development for Raser Technologies.

The remainder of the 80 or so folks in attendance included a handful of investment bankers as well as local homeowners, government and business leaders including Sangre De Cristo Electric Association’s Bill Bennett. Sangre De Cristo has expressed interest in incorporating geothermal into its energy portfolio.

Interest in the development of alternative energy has been propelled by Gov. Bill Ritter’s pledge to make developing a new energy economy a key part of his administration’s focus.

Matranga told the group the state is supportive of small-scale local renewable energy production adding that geothermal seems very promising.

Indeed, over the past year, newspaper reports indicate geothermal power is enjoying popularity among leading state and local energy experts. Tom Plant, Director of the Colorado Office of Energy Management and Conservation said a year ago that geothermal electrical generation should “serve as a cornerstone in Colorado’s renewable energy future.”

At the state’s first geothermal working group meeting last year, Curtis Framel, US Department of Energy, said geothermal could “help secure the nation’s energy future while diversifying the country’s energy portfolio.” Framel also noted that geothermal represents a “tremendous economic development benefit for rural Colorado” by creating jobs, diversifying the local economy, and increasing the tax base.

Contrasted against wind and solar, geothermal energy is the lowest impact and most consistent source of round-the-clock power, according to Raser’s Hayter. Raser, which is already exploring geothermal energy opportunities in Nevada and Utah, has its eye on Colorado too.

Closer to home, the Frontier Ranch meeting offered a time to share questions and answers about the project and its potential impact on neighbors in the area.

Fred Henderson, an owner in Mount Princeton Geothermal LLC, said that quite a bit is already known about the geophysics of the area around Chalk Creek Canyon thanks to exploratory research conducted in the 1970′s. At that time, Amax Mining Co., sought new energy sources to make energy self-reliant its molybdenum mine north of Leadville.

Henderson explained the leading system the investors group has been looking at to convert geothermal energy to electricity is a “non-consumptive pump and dump” system. Hot water would be pumped up through the ground from a deep hot water (hydrothermal) reservoir and once the heat from it is extracted at the power plant, the water would be returned directly back into the deep reservoir.

Community issues include the project’s affect on the water table, ground pollution, as well as visual, noise and heat impacts. Henderson said that these issues will be monitored in collaboration with the community, but using the non-consumptive system above, he expects these impacts will be minimal or non-existent.

Henderson, who conducted his own geological study of the area, said he concluded the Chalk Creek Canyon area is a pretty good area to look for a site to produce geothermal energy since four of the hottest wells in the state can be found here. The very hottest known springs are the Hortense and Wright Hot Springs, just west of Mount Princeton resort, where the water temperature is around 185 degrees Fahrenheit. In addition, the Colorado Geological Survey just issued a state-wide heat flow map that shows the Mt. Princeton area has the highest geothermal heat flow in Colorado.

A team of Colorado School of Mines professors and students are in the area to conduct research that will help fill in the blanks that will complete the geothermal energy capacity assessment of the area. Mines geophysics profs Michael Batzle and Andre Revil described their methods, including a 30-ton vibrator truck used to examine the “deep seismic geometry” of the area, as the equivalent of medical resonance imagining (MRI) only for the earth rather than the human body.

A public review of the initial data will be held May 22 at Deer Valley Ranch.

About Mount Princeton Geothermal LLC

Ownership stake in the LLC is being divided as follows: Frontier Ranch and Mount Princeton Holdings (parent company of the Mt. Princeton Hot Springs Resort) each will hold 40 percent interest in the company. The remaining 20 percent is divided evenly between two local geothermal landowners in the canyon, Hank Held and Fred Henderson.

Stanford and Harvard educated, Henderson is the resident expert on economic geology and geochemistry. He is an expert in satellite remote sensing systems for global geology. He is also member of the National Advisory Council of Environmental Policy and Technology for the US Environmental Protection Agency. He and Adams own their own Deadhorse Lake (renamed Lake Angelie) property, another area of geothermal activity. Henderson is happy to answer questions about the project. Email him at hendcos@msn.com.

Denver attorney Hank Held fondly recalls childhood visits to the family cabin his grandmother bought up Chalk Creek Canyon. Held said he originally considered retiring to the area to start a geothermally heated greenhouse for growing hydroponic tomatoes but after meeting Henderson, he said his thoughts turned toward the possibility of developing geothermal power. Held said the company is considering opening up ownership to additional investors and equity partners.

To learn more about geothermal energy, check out these web sites:

• US Department of Energy Geothermal Technologies
  
• National Renewable Energy Lab
• Geothermal Heat Center