Stop Hesperus Solar opposes the proposed industrial solar facility removing nearly 1,900 acres from one of the state’s largest wildlife migration corridors and elk winter range.

Providing NO benefits for local La Plata County citizens, with no proposed permanent jobs and no energy generated will be locally accessible.

In addition, surrounding residents may experience water shed disruption, increased fire dangers, permanent destruction of farmland, forest, open spaces, and the elimination of a rural way of life.  

1. Protecting Our Wildlife Migration Corridor

   Conservation of this migration corridor has been identified as a focus area for San Juan Basin herds in Southwest Colorado. Home to 27,000 mule deer and 19,000 elk, which use this land for their winter range and stay through the spring until they move onto higher elevation ranges as they green up. This project will pose an additional threat to wildlife decline blocking or cutting off these migration routes and reducing their effectiveness. Residents are increasingly concerned over cumulative and prolonged impacts disrupting migration and decreasing quality and quantity of habitat. Perimeter fencing proposed to be eight feet tall, will restrict movement of wildlife in the area, restricting wildlife from utilizing this 1,900 acres of winter range for this massive, up to 500,000 panel industrial project. Removal of vegetation will impact bird population and all other wildlife.

2. ZERO Local Energy Benefits

   This proposed Industrial facility will erect up to 500,000 panels and all energy generated will be transmitted through Tri-State transmission lines out of the area. Local distribution cooperatives, La Plata Electric Association and Empire Electric Association, will NOT be purchasers, except possibly as part of energy sold by Tri-State to its 50-some members across four states. Primergy, A California Company, has 16 other pre-existing industrial scale solar facilities across the country that have also been targeted to rural areas.

3. ZERO Local Jobs

   Job listings have already been posted online on a national level by a digital recruitment company for applications out of South Dakota. Primergy composing this industrial facility, based out of California, has told us there is no promise for local job fulfillment due to inexperience or lack of qualified individuals, without an attempt to prioritize locals first. There is also no promise for residents to even have access or directly benefit from this energy that is produced within our city limits and immediately impacting these listed concerns. Primergy has stated up to 250 workers could be hired from outside the area during the height of construction. Primergy may select four employees manning the facility from an on-site office during operation, or, stated they may decide to have no permanent on-site employees during operation. Which is especially concerning in relation to fire hazards, stated below.

4. Questionable Tax Benefits

   The only local benefit this industrial facility can point to is revenue from the state tax on renewables. It claims La Plata County will receive $37 million over the 45 year life of the project ($822k annually) from this tax. This assumes the tax will remain the same and not be diminished over time. Little guarantees these tax levels will sustain inflation over the term of the 45 year industrial facility. After that lifespan, there is the substantial cost of decommissioning that will leave a agricultural wasteland behind.

5. Fire Hazards & Safety

   Primergy may select four employees at the facility’s on-site office during operation, or, stated they may decide to have no permanent on-site employees during operation. The possibility of fires resulting from or intensified by these systems is very concerning to general public and firefighters within the region.
   A recent report highlights that “The industry could possibly be misjudging the threat of fire and urgently needs to address the issue, particularly as cumulative installed PV capacity increased by approximately one quarter in 2021.”
   The number of fires increased more rapidly than growth of some markets installations.
   On June 5, 2019 an industrial solar facility in California scorched 1,127 acres between Los Angeles and San Fransisco when a bird flew into a pair of wires, creating an electrical circuit and a shower of sparks. “One wing touches each of the conductors, and they turn into a light bulb,” said Zach Nichols, a Cal Fire Battalion Chief. “Happens all the time.” The fire caused an estimated $8-9 million in losses.

6. Land (Forest, Farmland, Vegetation, Soil) Is Forever Destroyed

   Despite current discussions regarding decommissioning, the reality is that this rural land will be lost forever. Industrial-scale solar projects are typically 30-40 years. This industrial facility has confirmed up to 500,000 panels for 45 years. Construction of an industrial-scare solar power plant requires removal of trees, brush and root balls prior to installation of the arrays, creating an ecological wasteland. Grading, pile driving, blasting, electric cable trenching and road construction will compact the soil, likely delaying agricultural use for years after the project’s end. Stripping and compaction removes topsoil, destroys healthy soil organisms and allows for invasion of exotic plants that choke out native species.

7. Water Quality & Possible Contamination Disaster
   Residents are very concerned about the impact on well water quality within the vicinity. Uncontrolled runoff of water and topsoil is a well-documented byproduct of industrial-scale solar site development. This massive increase in watershed sedimentation impacts all downstream rivers and estuaries. Water contamination doesn’t stop with the end of construction. Removal of all trees and deep-rooted plants, along with inadequate stormwater controls lead to long-term runoff and water contamination issues. Local municipalities usually do not have adequate resources to monitor construction and stormwater violations and, even when properly monitored, site developers have no problem paying fines, and there is no effective check on environmental damage.

8. Chemical Toxicity & Herbicides

   Gambel oak, grasses, native plants and weeds will attempt to regenerate on the disturbed land. For management, there are generally a few ways solar farms deal with ‘unwanted’ vegetation. Predominantly the combination of high rates of herbicide and ground cover, resulting in toxic contamination to the soil and water run off. Particles from damaged and degrading panels also introduce other chemicals and heavy metals into the land. There are carcinogenic health risks and these are some of our most valuable resources.

9. Threat To Historic Sites & Archaeological Deposits

   Many rural areas are the last undeveloped sites that contain prehistoric and historic archaeological deposits. Industrial development of these sites results in the irreversible loss of our history. The archival research, physical examinations and state mandated review have only recently begun and are still being conducted on the proposed industrial facility’s property. This includes land within Fort Lewis, including evidence of a Native American Boarding School which operated from 1891-1910. The land also includes Camp Lewis, a designated demobilization camp that was then retained as a permanent post after WWI. Wildcat Canyon Road (now HWY 141) was used to transport all troops and materials to Fort Lewis. Fort Lewis is unique because the land and real property have remained in public trust, allowing for its survival to the present and use as a significant historical resource.

10. La Plata Views & Property Devaluation

    Most residents built their homes encompassing the incredible unrestricted La Plata view. Now there will be consistent noise disruption,  potential glint and glare into these residences in the evening hours and light pollution in the night sky. Based on recent studies, the expected reduction in property value ranged from 5-25% depending on proximity.

11. EMF/RF & Health Risks

    The classification of ELF magnetic fields as carcinogenic to humans has been made by IARC. Prolonged environmental exposure, even if minor, constitute a health hazard if it results in stress. In humans, an adverse health effect results from a biological effect that causes detectable impairment in the health or wellbeing of exposed individuals. Many health outcomes ranging from reproductive defects to cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases have been examined, but the most consistent evidence to date concerns childhood leukemia. This Industrial facility has confirmed there are 500,000 proposed panels that will be emitting these frequencies.

12. Heat Island Effects

    Structures absorb and re-emit the sun’s heat more than natural landscapes such as forests and water bodies. Where structures are highly concentrated and greenery is limited, become ‘islands’ of higher temperatures relative to outlying areas. These pockets of heat are referred to as “heat islands.” Studies have demonstrated that temperatures around a solar power farm were 5.4-7.2 degrees warmer than nearby wild lands.

13. Bill For Decommissioning Projects Will Likely Be Passed On To Taxpayers

    Insufficient surety fund by the developer could result in county responsibility for decommissioning costs. Net Decommissioning costs can range from $43,584/MW to $101,915/MW. No plan and cost should ever be approved without a full understanding of the cost to return the land to its original condition, and the county should not be responsible for these potential costs.