A report Monday by The Wilderness Society calls the 9,600-acre parcel near Antonito the best of the Colorado options being looked at for utility-scale solar plants. The report anticipates the release of a draft environmental impact statement by the government later this week.
The draft is expected to help formulate development policy and also examine the potential impacts to 24 areas in six western states that have high solar potential.
The Wilderness Society praised the Antonito parcel as the best of Colorado's four potential zones, all of which sit in the San Luis Valley. The site, which sits just southeast of town and borders U.S. 285, is of limited value to wildlife or for recreation, according to the report.
The strength of the sun over the property, as measured by the direct normal insulation, also received a high rating. Moreover, the proximity to the highway would cut down on impacts from construction, the report said.
Alex Daue, the society's renewable energy coordinator, said that while the Antonito site was the best, the group hasn't called for any of the sites in the state to be taken off the table.
"Overall, the zones were well selected," he said.
But The Wilderness Society's willingness to back large scale solar projects drew criticism from a local group that is battling a proposal on private land near Saguache.
Ceal Smith, of the San Luis Valley Renewable Communities Alliance said large-scale plants, which take up thousands of acres, can completely unravel ecosystems.
Moreover, they're not as cost efficient as distributed solar generation which can take the form of roof-top panels or small-scale projects, Smith said..
Daue said larger plants are needed to more quickly meet the group's goal of limiting greenhouse gas emissions. The group has not taken a position on a proposed transmission line from Pueblo to the San Luis Valley.
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