Basalt solar array groundbreaking to take place next week

The Town of Basalt and the Roaring Fork School District’s construction of five solar arrays around town will be celebrated with a ribbon cutting and groundbreaking at Basalt High School at 4 p.m. April 2.

A partnership between the town and the school district is nearing completion after the two entered into a formal agreement in June 2023 to share ownership, expenses, maintenance, and energy credits for clean energy generation at school and town facilities. Basalt also received more than half a million dollars in grant funding from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs.

The partnership included five solar arrays located on land in front of Basalt High School and on 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 11%-92%.

The largest solar array will be located at Basalt High School and will be the final array installed.

“We are so proud to be delivering clean electricity to our schools and government facilities and to be fulfilling the goals of the 2023 Basalt Forward plan and the will of the voters,” said Basalt Mayor Bill Kane in a news release. 

The addition of solar panels at the schools is one of several projects Basalt is spearheading in response to the 2023 Basalt Forward Program ballot question where voters approved increasing the supply of affordable housing, improvements on Midland Avenue, and green projects such as solar development and vehicle charging stations.

“The Roaring Fork School District greatly appreciates its partnership with the town of Basalt on this renewable energy project, which will reduce our electric bills and our carbon footprint while educating students about the green energy transition,” said Roaring Fork School District Chief Operating Officer Ben Bohmfalk in the release. “These panels will soon be powering electric school buses, groundskeeping equipment, and heating and cooling systems as we electrify our operations in support of a clean energy future for our kids.”