La Plata Electric Association could add a new community solar garden after a decision by its wholesale energy supplier to give the co-op additional freedom to produce renewable electricity.

Tri-State Generation and Transmission limits how much power LPEA can purchase from outside sources to 5% until 2050, a cap LPEA has long been close to reaching. However, Tri-State’s board voted last week to allow all its members, including LPEA, to add community solar projects that would not be subject to the 5% cap.

Under the new program, LPEA could add 2 megawatts of solar, enough to power 575 homes, said Dan Harms, LPEA’s manager of rates, technology and energy policy.

A new solar garden could help LPEA meet its goals to cut its carbon footprint by 50% by 2030, but it will not be enough, Harms said.

“We still need more flexibility and higher percentages of carbon-free generation to reduce our carbon footprint by 50%. LPEA will continue to explore its options to accomplish this,” Harms said.

LPEA asked the state Public Utilities Commission earlier this month to determine how much it would cost for the co-op to buy out of its contract with its wholesale energy supplier.

While LPEA has not decided whether to buy out of the contract, leaving the contract with Tri-State could give the electric co-op the ability to develop more local renewable energy projects, such as solar arrays.

The LPEA board discussed Tri-State’s community solar program Wednesday but didn’t decide whether it would build a new garden, Harms said.

“It looks promising, but we will need to see final policy and contract language before making a decision,” he said.

LPEA already has four community solar gardens connected to the grid that are owned and operated by third parties. Tri-State’s new program would require LPEA to own and operate the additional community solar project and sell the power to its members through subscriptions.

If every Tri-State member decided to build new projects, 63 megawatts of community solar could be built, according to a Tri-State news release.

“Our members are working together to create more flexibility for local renewable power generation. Expanding opportunities for co-op members to participate in community solar is another step toward that goal,” said Duane Highley, Tri-State CEO, in a news release.

mshinn@durangoherald.com