Town of Basalt, RFSD, and Holy Cross Energy cut ribbon on solar array project at Basalt High
Josie Taris/The Aspen Times
The Town of Basalt and the Roaring Fork School District celebrated a partnership that fulfills a 2020 promise to voters to invest significant funds into green initiatives in the town — with more money to spare.
A ribbon cutting at Basalt High School marked the near-completion of five solar arrays throughout town and school district property, which are set to come online in the next few months.
The arrays will be installed in a lawn on the property in such a way that the stretch of land can still hold stormwater from the area. It will be fenced, and the hope is that the arrays can be incorporated into some school curricula.
At the high school, the array will help meet current electric demands and power future electric retrofits.
“We’re going to save some money on electric bills and, more importantly, reduce our carbon footprint,” said Roaring Fork School District Chief Operating Officer Ben Bohmfalk.
The other locations for arrays include the rooftops of the high school’s concession stand, the elementary school, the El Jebel school bus barn, and the Basalt Public Works building. Depending on the property, the solar energy output of the panel will reduce traditional electric use by 11-92%.
The project was first identified in the 2020 Basalt Master Plan. Voters approved bonds to fund Basalt Forward 2030 projects green initiatives, affordable housing, and downtown revitalization in a 2020 ballot initiative.
“It checks the box for the town in regard to our climate emergency and regional partnerships,” said Town Manager Ryan Mahoney. “I think it’s a successful project. It’s going to be online here pretty quickly. And I think making good on our promise to the voters at the end of the day.”
The arrays are not yet installed, but he said he expects they will be installed and fully-operational at the high school within the next 60 days, with completion at the four other sites staggered throughout this spring.
The total project cost is about $1.8 million, which would take up nearly all of the Basalt Forward green initiatives’ $2 million budget.
Through an approximate $600,000 grant from the state Department of Local Affairs and an expected 20% project budget reimbursement through the federal Inflation Reduction Act, the town expects Basalt Forward green initiative funds to account for about a third of the overall solar array budget, leaving about $1 million for future green initiative use.
Mahoney said deciding the direction for those funds will fall to the new council, with three new council members and council incumbent David Knight moving into the mayor’s seat on April 23. Composting has been a major goal for the town.
“I think it’s gonna be a fun opportunity for them,” he said. “Some of that money will likely go towards trying to figure out composting in the community and if we can support it in some of the neighborhoods or the different HOAs as pilot projects.”
Holy Cross Energy, the not-for-profit energy cooperative with a goal to provide 100% clean energy to their members by 2030, partnered with the town and school district on the project. They helped select sites for the solar arrays and worked with the district on electric rates for offsetting and usage.
