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What is “Agrivoltaics?”

Person smiling and holding a bin of harvested tomatoes while standing between rows of solar panels and plants on a farm.

Maximizing Land Use to Harvest Both Food and Electricity Doing double-duty, layering benefits, or providing twofold results — whichever it is called — taking advantage of two positive uses on one valuable piece of land makes logical and financial sense.  That is a main purpose of agrivoltaics, or the simultaneous use of land to produce […]

Teach Your Children Well

Woman bending to talk to a toddler in a kitchen with wooden cabinets and a stainless steel refrigerator.

  By Miranda Boutelle Q: I’m making an effort to reduce my energy use, and I want my kids to start energy-saving habits as well. How can I encourage them to use less electricity at home?  A: Educating kids on energy use and costs can help engage them in your family’s goal to use less […]

Have STEM Projects, Will Travel

Trailer with "Colorado 4-H Energy Lab" branding parked in a garage next to a vehicle.

By Tadius Huser, Member Services Manager Highline Electric Association STATE PARTNERSHIP  In a partnership with the Colorado State University 4-H Extension, Colorado’s electric cooperatives sponsor the Mobile Energy Lab to inspire kids to learn about modern energy generation, energy sources, and energy efficiency practices.  Toby Swaford, K-12 4-H STEM state specialist at Colorado State University […]

Renewable Geothermal Energy Gaining Traction in Colorado

Construction site with long trench containing metal coil structures, surrounded by dirt piles. Machinery and trees visible in the background.

By Sharon Sullivan Colorado Mesa University saves $1.5 million in energy costs per year by using a heat pump geothermal exchange system installed in 2008. The system provides 80% of the university’s heating and cooling.  Geothermal energy is heat-energy from the earth that is tapped via wells drilled into underground shallow groundwater or deep thermal […]

Colorado Co-ops Recognized for Reaching Cybersecurity Goals

Group of people standing on stage in front of a geometric logo, with U.S. flag and state flag visible, set against a blue curtain background.

The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association recognized 20 electric cooperatives at its second annual Co-op Cyber Tech Conference in May. Three Colorado electric co-ops were among the group. The co-ops met 10 cybersecurity goals under the national association’s new voluntary program that helps co-ops advance their cybersecurity posture.  In a brief ceremony in May, representatives […]

The Basics of Residential Solar

A worker in safety gear installs solar panels on a sloped roof under a clear sky.

By Amy Higgins The sun has powered lives since our predecessors used glass to reflect the sun’s rays and create fire. Over the centuries, the sun’s power potential was further realized, altered and adapted to its present form where solar panels can convert sunlight into electricity. Today, people across the globe are installing residential solar […]

Efficiency Tips for Residential Well Pumps

A vintage hand water pump with a curved handle fills a metal bucket with water. The pump is situated on a cobblestone path surrounded by greenery.

By Miranda Boutelle Q: I get my water supply from my own well. How can I use less electricity with my well? A: The energy a residential well system uses depends on the equipment and water use. The homeowner is responsible for maintaining the well, ensuring drinking water is safe and paying for the electricity […]

Greenhouse Gas Removal Terminology

Aerial view of a large industrial power plant with tall smokestacks, surrounded by vast green fields and roads.

By Paul Wesslund What if instead of letting greenhouse gases escape from power plants, you could grab that carbon dioxide before it even reaches the atmosphere? It’s a simple idea that’s getting a lot more attention as concerns grow over the effects of burning fossil fuels that power many industries and generate a large share […]

Longevity of EV Batteries

Person plugging an electric vehicle into a charging station at sunrise, with trees and a house in the background.

Many electric vehicle owners wonder about the longevity of EV batteries in their cars. And we’re not just talking about range. The lithium-ion batteries that run EVs can make up 50%-70% of an EV’s value — and if the battery dies, so does the car. While lithium-ion batteries have been studied a lot over the […]

Colorado’s Ranking in Wind Energy

Wind turbines in a field at sunset with an orange and pink sky.

A recent release from Climate Central’s “WeatherPower Year in Review: 2022” reports that electricity generated from solar and wind grew 16% from 2021, with wind accounting for roughly 74% of that growth. The report also states the 683,130 gigawatt-hours generated across the country from renewable power generation resources were enough to power 64 million average […]