Silverton Goal of Less Dependency (Team GOLD)

Implementation of the Silverton GOLD project is based on the following GOLD nugget initiatives developed with funding from the initial award: 

1. Community Resilience Blueprint:

The San Juan County Resiliency Plan is a strategic framework designed to enhance the county’s ability to withstand and recover from natural hazards, public health emergencies, infrastructure disruptions, and economic challenges and disasters. Grounded in community collaboration and data-driven risk assessments, the plan prioritizes a proactive approach, by emphasizing community preparedness, energy sustainability, communications reliability, and infrastructure resilience. The plan integrates lessons learned from recent power outages, mine disasters, wildfires, avalanche cycles, and disease threats, aiming to create a safer, more self-reliant future for the remote and mountainous community of San Juan County, Colorado.

Key Elements:

• Infrastructure & Energy Resilience: Support for microgrids, backup power, and water security for critical facilities.
• The ability to bounce back from disasters with minimal outside support

• Community Engagement & Education: Resilience Workshops, exercises, and messaging like "Mountain Tough. Always Ready." to build public awareness and action.

   

2. Regional Climate Action Plan:

Established in 2009 to further regional sustainability goals, the Sneffels Energy Board unites government, community, and utility representatives from San Miguel, Ouray, and now San Juan counties. This has increased Silverton’s network of available expertise to implement energy projects, increased accessibility to regional programs, allowed for aggregation of limited rural resources to leverage funding, and developed specific community emissions reductions strategies. EcoAction Partners developed a Climate Action Plan Appendix specifically for Silverton and San Juan County, which highlights key action items for the upcoming decade.

As members of the Sneffels Energy Board, Silverton and San Juan County representatives attend quarterly meetings to advance regional climate action initiatives.

Regional Climate Action Plan Appendix

3. Beneficial Electrification Roadmap

Beneficial Electrification is switching fossil fuel-powered equipment to electrical power in instances while at the same time increasing the renewable energy makeup of the grid.

Silverton does not have natural gas service, so most homes use propane for heating, hot water and cooking. Propane is currently over three times more expensive than natural gas, meaning the cost benefits of electrifying with high efficiency equipment are amplified, especially when combined with net-metered rooftop solar. Many homeowners utilize wood stoves, and some, along with commercial and public buildings, still rely on coal. Many use old inefficient baseboard electric heating, resulting in high electricity bills. Retrofitting buildings with high efficiency cold climate air source heat pumps (ccASHP) will significantly reduce utility bills and GHG emissions, while creating more comfortable buildings during severe winters.

EcoAction Partners is in the process of developing a Beneficial Electrification Plan.

4. Electrical Resilience and Renewable Energy Planning

San Miguel Power Association identified the desire to explore feasibility of a community solar and storage microgrid, constituting the “flagship” clean energy project for implementation. This microgrid would provide the community access to clean renewable energy and 4-6 hours of resilience to provide power during the increasingly frequent power disruptions due to inclement weather. The storage component would provide continuous, uninterrupted power backup for the full distribution circuit while the solar array would serve two purposes: 1) recharge the battery during periods of extended (4+ hour) power disruptions, and 2) generate the entire annual community energy use with locally sited renewable energy. 

SMPA has accomplished the following objectives:

1. Local grid distribution modernization: SMPA upgraded critical electrical delivery mechanisms utilizing a temporary mobile transformer at the Cement Creek Substation.
2. Behind-the-meter microgrids: Identified key anchor institutions and began individual facility feasibility studies assessing the potential for small-scale microgrids.
3. Community solar/storage microgrids: Initiated design and cost estimates for storage components, marking the first step toward a comprehensive solar/storage microgrid solution. 

SMPA is completing a feasibility study for the project and intends to pursue implementation in two phases. The first will pursue Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) construction funding to install the battery system, complete the solar design, and then seek funding for the construction of the full solar and microgrid controls.