San Miguel Power Association and Clean Energy Collective
Break Ground on First Community Solar Farm in SW Colorado

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San Miguel Power Association, Inc. (SMPA) and the Clean Energy Collective (CEC) held a groundbreaking ceremony on July 31, 2012 on their one-megawatt community-owned solar project in Paradox Valley, the first community solar farm in Southwestern Colorado. The system is sited on seven acres in the northeast corner of Paradox Valley along U.S. Highway 90, approximately 15 miles west of Naturita, Colo. When completed, it will provide enough electricity to power roughly 220 homes within SMPA’s service territory. Please send us an email for more information on this project.

Groundbreaking Ceremony
July 31, 2012 – Paradox Valley, Colorado

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Permission to reprint these photos is granted, as long as credit is given to SMPAsolar.com

Pictured Left to Right: Chad Roach (CEC); Brad Zaporski (SMPA); Colo. State Representative Don Coram; Markus Wilson (SMPA Board of Directors); Dr. John Nelson (SMPA member); Susan (SMPA Member); Kristin Kuhlman (CEC); Jerry Hoffer (SMPA BOD) with white shovel; Kevin Ritter (SMPA General Manager) with white shovel; Rube Felicelli (Pres., SMPA BOD) with green shovel; Paul Spencer (CEC, founder and CEO); Ken Alexander (CEC); Dave Alexander (SMPA BOD) with white shovel; Ken Haynes (SMPA); Doylene Garvye (SMPA BOD) with white shovel	Jerry Hoffer (SMPA BOD) with white shovel; Kevin Ritter (SMPA General Manager) with white shovel; Rube Felicelli (Pres., SMPA BOD) with green shovel; Paul Spencer (CEC, founder and CEO); Ken Alexander (CEC); Dave Alexander (SMPA BOD) with white shovel
Kevin Ritter (SMPA General Manager)	Kevin Ritter; (SMPA General Manager); Paul Spencer (CEC, founder and CEO); Kristin Kuhlman (CEC)
Construction begins on the site of the SMPA Community Solar Farm in Paradox Valley, Colorado

About the SMPA Community Solar Farm

The Clean Energy Collective is administering the community solar program for SMPA. SMPA members are eligible to buy into the SMPA Community Solar array by purchasing solar panels. SMPA will directly credit the member’s monthly electric bill for the power their panel produces in the community array. Each solar panel is 235 watts, costs $705 and will generate around $45 worth of electricity per year.

CEC anticipates it will take approximately three months to construct SMPA’s Community Solar array, but members can reserve panels in advance. The CEC is currently taking reservations and working with members to determine what will fit their budgets and energy use. CEC also offers flexible, low-cost, long-term financing for qualified members through its partner Sooper Credit Union and its Clean Energy Loan program.

Community-owned solar projects offer many advantages over traditional private installations. Currently, members who are interested in solar generation must install panels on their individual homes or businesses. This limits the participation of renters and members with poor solar locations. In contrast, community projects are located on ideal sites with excellent sun exposure. CEC will own, operate and maintain SMPA’s Community Solar array, meaning that members who purchase a panel in the array will incur no additional operation or maintenance costs. And it’s more affordable than a traditional private solar installation.

Members interested in learning more or reserving panels should contact CEC directly at www.SMPAsolar.com, 1-888-208-5858 or sales@smpasolar.com.

About San Miguel Power Association (SMPA)
San Miguel Power Association, Inc. is a member-owned, locally-controlled rural electric cooperative with offices in Nucla and Ridgway, Colo. It is the mission of San Miguel Power Association to demonstrate corporate responsibility and community service while providing our members safe, reliable, cost effective and environmentally responsible electrical service. SMPA serves approximately 9,600 members and 14,000 meters and supports local communities with $200,000 annually in property taxes and $400,000 in energy efficiency and renewable energy rebates.

About Clean Energy Collective (CEC)
Colorado-based Clean Energy Collective is a developer of community-based renewable energy facilities and a national leader in community power generation. CEC pioneered the model of delivering clean power-generation through large-scale facilities that are collectively owned by participating utility customers. The CEC’s proprietary RemoteMeter® system automatically calculates monthly credits and integrates with existing utility billing systems, enabling all utility customers to easily have clean, renewable power credited directly on their monthly utility bills, without modifying their home or office.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
San Miguel Power Association Community Solar
Powered by Clean Energy Collective
Web: www.SMPAsolar.com
Phone: 800.370.5276
Email: sales@smpasolar.com

Clean Energy Collective
Phone: 1-800-646-0323
Email: moreinfo@morecleanenergy.com
Web: www.EasyCleanEnergy.com