ALAMOSA COUNTY — Adapture Renewables/Haynach Solar LLC has submitted a preliminary application to Alamosa County to develop 110 MW of solar PV generation and a 110 MW battery energy storage system capable of harnessing four hours of electricity. This project, if approved, could bring significant economic and environmental benefits to the community. 

Luis Meneses, Development Manager with Adapture Renewables, presented before the Alamosa County Commissioners on April 9 for a 1041 permit application waiver request. 

Alamosa County Land Use Director, Richard Hubler told the Valley Courier, “The County Commissioners, acting as the Permit Authority for 1041 permits, approved a request from Adapture Renewables to waive certain commonly waived details to be included in the forthcoming final application for the Haynach Hybrid Solar Project near Mosca. Because this project includes a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) they followed staff’s recommendation and also specified that a noise study would be required. We expect that Adapture will submit their final application this summer.” 

1041 regulations are delegated powers from the state to local jurisdictions to regulate matters of statewide concern, including the development of utility infrastructure.  

The project is in early development, and the projected timeline has construction beginning in 2029 for a 16-month period. According to the application filed with the county, which includes a timeline for the project, "Each of these milestones is interdependent. For example, financing for the project cannot be secured without the HB1041 approval, executed GIA [General Indemnity Agreement], and a signed PPA" [Power Purchase Agreement].  

The project would require building an onsite collector substation and a new 230 kilowatt generation tie line to connect with the existing Tri-State and Public Service Colorado San Luis Valley Substation. The company plans to build on 1,109 acres of leased land comprised of four parcels previously proposed as phases 2 and 3 on an existing application by Sun Power for the Hooper Solar facility. 

The proposed facility is located approximately 5.5 miles southwest of Hooper, 17 miles northwest of Alamosa, and near an existing substation. The project would produce 330,039 megawatt hours of electricity annually.  

Adapture owns 39 solar facilities across the United States, including a 330-acre farm in Gainsville, Fla., where it employs agrivoltaics incorporating agriculture into its solar array. The farm has 450 sheep that graze beneath the solar array. 

In June 2024, the SF Business Times and Silicon Valley Business Journal named the Oakland, Calif.-based company one of the top 10 "Best Places to Work in the Bay Area," for the second consecutive year. 

At the same county commissioners meeting on April 9, the 1041 application from Korsail Energy for a solar project was rejected because it did not meet criteria, including impacts to wildlife. 

Details of the Adapture application are available for inspection in the Alamosa County Land Use Office at 8999 Independence Way Suite 100 in Alamosa during regular business hours. The full application is online at www.alamosacounty.org/DocumentCenter/Index/226.