Noticias

• SMPA Charges Forward with Renewable Energy Goals
• West End Roundup with the San Miguel Basin Forum
• County and Eco-Action Partner for Energy Upgrades

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SMPA Charges Forward with Renewable Energy Goals

For the San Miguel Power Association, building a resilient energy grid continues to be their top priority.

In January, President Trump announced a freeze on $3.2 billion in Colorado funding from the Inflation Reduction Act’s New ERA energy grants. Much of this funding was meant to assist Colorado energy cooperatives in transitioning to renewable energy sources, away from traditional coal, and to help build resiliency in local electric grids.

SMPA was set to receive $9.8 million from the New ERA funding for a project in Montrose County.

“We’re looking to take that money and look at a potential large-scale solar array to be positioned on the West End of Montrose County,” said Alex Shelly, SMPA’s communications executive. “We’ve identified a spot for that and we’ve been engaging with the communities. It’s a brownfield, so it really can’t be used for agriculture or other uses, so it’s an ideal site. It’s on a privately owned parcel, and so we’re, as I mentioned, in the communities talking about the potential for this.”

Regarding the funding freeze, Shelly said SMPA is moving forward with its mission to provide reliable energy to its service area, which stretches from the Utah state line to Silverton, Colorado.

“We don’t have an inside scoop on Washington, D.C., any more than anyone else, but we are moving forward with plans for the project, and we fully expect that the New ERA funding will come through as promised. Even if the funding doesn’t come through, if something doesn’t happen, it doesn’t change the fact that we are looking at ways to improve the resiliency of the grid. We’re constantly looking for ways to shore up our electrical infrastructure, and this project would definitely do that. And make no mistake, without the $9.8 million grant, this particular project would be dead in the water,” Shelly said.

While the New ERA funding remains in flux, Shelly said there are other exciting projects in the works. In Silverton, SMPA and the local government have partnered to explore how to create energy resiliency in a mountain town that frequently experiences highway closures due to snowfall.

“Effectively, that’s for a microgrid — the potential of a microgrid project in Silverton that would shore up the town in the case of a greater power outage,” Shelly said.

Microgrids offer communities and neighborhoods the ability to maintain power during larger outages, typically built with battery backup systems and solar arrays. Shelly added that SMPA is moving forward with microgrid projects across its service area.

“In addition to that, the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) has also issued several grants to SMPA and communities within our service territory for microgrid projects of a similar nature. We’ve got potential projects in Rico, in Ridgway, for SMPA offices in Nucla and Ridgway, and that’s through the Microgrids for Community Resilience (MCR) program through the state,” Shelly said.

Shelly emphasized that SMPA’s mission is to improve the resilience of communities and shore up vulnerabilities in case of power outages, which he said are inevitable in such a mountainous region.

“Regardless of what happens in Washington, D.C., we’re going to continue to march forward with that,” Shelly said.

He added that the upcoming congressional budget reconciliation process will provide further clarity on the pending freeze of the Inflation Reduction Act and New ERA funds.

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West End Roundup with San Miguel Basin Forum

Today on the West End Roundup with the San Miguel Basin Forum, KOTO’s news team chats with editor Regan Tuttle about the following:

• Mayoral candidates for Nucla
• Garvey family ranching legacy honored with award
• Success found for Nucla math and STEM programs

Story begins at 4:43.

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County and Eco-Action Partner for Energy Upgrades

There is about to be a lot more money for renewable energy upgrades in San Miguel County.

For several years, local sustainability and climate nonprofit Eco Action Partners has offered green grants through the Town of Telluride for qualified residents and businesses, ranging from $500 to $40,000 for energy efficiency upgrades.

This coming year, San Miguel County is adding $100,000 to the green grants program, expanding it regionally.

San Miguel County Natural Resources and Climate Resiliency Director Starr Jamison spoke at the March 5 County Commissioners meeting about the new project’s goals.

“To reduce greenhouse gas, to offer incentives to residents and local businesses in San Miguel County outside of Telluride and TOMV. Examples are using the funds for renewable energy such as solar panels. They can also use it for windows and home improvements for energy efficiency,” Jamison said.

The $100,000 comes from the Renewable Energy Mitigation Program, or REMP.

“Our REMP Fund is the fund that we collect for snowmelt, hot tubs, pools, and heating garage spaces,” Jamison said. “The Renewable Energy Mitigation Program.”

The REMP program is a tax on energy-intensive home upgrades, such as heated driveways. According to the county, the funds must be used for greenhouse gas mitigation—such as the green grant program.

Currently, the County REMP Fund has $159,000. Jamison said the $100,000 contribution to the green grants program is reasonable given the fluctuation in projected REMP amounts from year to year.

San Miguel County will handle the regional green grants program financially, working alongside Eco Action Partners to promote and collaborate on other funding opportunities.

“The next steps are to create a contract with Eco Action Partners, also work with them to establish the program, coming up with a review committee and criteria, and then work with the finance department to understand what is needed to distribute in 2026,” Jamison said.

Jamison and the County Commissioners expressed interest in adopting a similar format to the current Town of Telluride green grants program, which includes a review committee made up of local boards to review applications and distribute awards.

While the 2024 green grant awardees have not been announced, in 2023 Eco Action Partners and the Town of Telluride awarded seven individuals and businesses for energy efficiency upgrades, ranging from window replacements to improvements to community compost programs.

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Wilkinson Library to Offer Free Legal Clinics

The Wilkinson Public Library will host free legal clinics from 4 to 5:40 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month in 2025. The clinics will take place in Meeting Room #3 on the second floor.

The first session will be held on Tuesday, March 11, and is open to individuals who do not have an attorney. Volunteer attorneys will assist with answering questions, filling out forms, and explaining legal processes.

Please note that the volunteer attorneys will not represent clients; the clinic is for informational purposes only. Appointments are required. To schedule an appointment, call 970-728-4519.

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Colorado Bill Seeks to Designate Emperor Mushroom as State Mushroom

A bill in the Colorado State Legislature aims to designate the emperor mushroom as the state mushroom. House Bill 1091 would declare Agaricus julius, commonly known as the emperor mushroom, as Colorado’s official mushroom.

The emperor mushroom is found throughout Colorado, thriving in high-elevation spruce-fir forests. It is edible and often used for its medicinal properties.

The bill is sponsored by Rep. Jacque Philips and co-sponsored by state Sen. Cleave Simpson. The resolution would not incur any costs to implement, and lawmakers are expected to pass it with little controversy.

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Colorado Democrats Call for Investigation Into NOAA Firings

Colorado Democrats are calling for an investigation into reports of mass firings at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Rocky Mountain Community Radio’s Caroline Llanes has more.

Story begins at 14:21.

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Colorado Lawmakers Push for Plan to Reduce Hospital Costs

Colorado lawmakers are looking to reduce the cost of hospital treatment.

KUNC’s Chas Sisk reports a new plan could save the state an estimated $65 million annually, but hospitals are pushing back.

Story begins at 15:45.

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Thousands of Federal Employees Fired in Nationwide Purge

Tens of thousands of federal employees have been abruptly fired in recent weeks as part of the Trump administration’s effort to reduce federal spending through significant workforce cuts.

So far, probationary workers—those in their positions for less than a year—have been the first to be let go.

More than a dozen federal agencies have been affected, including FEMA, the IRS, and the Department of Energy. Public land managers have been among the hardest hit, with thousands of employees fired from the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service since mid-February.

For Rocky Mountain Community Radio, KZMU’s Emily Arntsen reports on how this is impacting southeast Utah.

Story begins at 16:52.