The Montezuma County Planning and Zoning Commission in May unanimously agreed to reject a utility-scale solar project on 960 acres of predominantly agricultural land, leaving the project by Boulder-based Juwi Inc. in limbo, “TBD.”
“Juwi looks forward to the results of the current solar energy moratorium under Resolution 6-2025. At that juncture, we will examine potential avenues for Canyonland Solar,” said Juwi’s David Kimmet in an email to The Journal.
In early April, the Montezuma County Board of County Commissioners unanimously agreed to a six-month moratorium on large-scale solar projects, to be lifted in September.
Despite the moratorium, the previously proposed Canyonland Solar project was allowed to move forward in the application process. At the April 8 Planning and Zoning meeting, County Commissioner Jim Candelaria called the moratorium “a pause to make sure we have better language in land-use code.”
Montezuma County is one of eight counties in the state with “no relevant definitions present” for solar development in its land-use code, according to a 2024 National Renewable Energy Laboratory report.
More recently, at the Planning and Zoning meeting in May, Kimmet flipped through a slide deck, presenting pertinent points to the board from Juwi Inc.’s 547-page application.
Since Juwi first approached the county in 2020 with “a concept,” the project has changed, taking community and expert input into account, Kimmet said.
Though the project has remained 140 megawatts – which, according to the project’s website could power 30,000 average Colorado homes – the configuration of the panels on land near Goodman Point has changed. For instance, panels previously were required to be at least 500 feet away from a home, but after meeting with the community, they changed that threshold to 800 feet, said Kimmet.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife recommended removing panels near the canyon edge and adding gaps between arrays for big game movement, though the distance is unknown and a further study is needed, Kimmet said
CPW also recommended 8-foot-high wildlife exclusion fencing around the project.
Juwi’s application included multiple “sub plans” that detailed decommissioning, dust mitigation and a fire protection plan approved by the Lewis-Arriola Fire Protection District.
At the May 15 meeting, Kimmet said he was aware of decommissioning concerns and spoke of agrivoltaics, and how grazing sheep in solar arrays was becoming a “best practice.” Kimmet also mentioned a revegetation plan and plans for a mix of local seeds to help regenerate the land they lease.
“I understand the concerns,” Kimmet said. “There are complex parameters you’ll have to consider … understand this’ll pay dividends for years to come.”
Juwi estimated the project would bring the county about $280,000 in tax revenue every year – $9.8 million during the project’s 35-year life.
The largest share of that money – 57% – would go to Montezuma-Cortez High School. Colorado assesses agricultural and renewable energy land the same – 26.40%.
“There’s some of the best sunlight in the country here,” Kimmet said in May, underscoring the value of U.S. energy independence.
To help mitigate Juwi’s impact, the Kimmet said the company would make a 4-H donation, get a new defibrillator for the Lewis-Arriola ambulance and possibly even have a “teaching tool array” at the high school to help students learn about solar.
Roughly 120 people attended the public hearing for the project, which wrapped up after about three hours, at 8:52 p.m.
Some residents supported the project, saying the county needed the money and the application went “above and beyond” what’s typically turned in.
“The benefits outweigh the short-term impacts,” said another.
Most community members who spoke opposed the project.
“This will directly take 960 acres out of ag,” one person said. Another called the project “an insult to the land.”
“There’s a potential to turn it into a wasteland,” they said, expressing fear that regeneration efforts would be in vain.
“This land is for farming and ranching. That’s what this place does,” a speaker said. “Nobody lives in Montezuma County because they want to be rich.” A struggling farmer said, “You’re killing us.”
Residents from Pleasant View shared their perspective as neighbors to a large-scale solar array under construction in Dolores County.
“I urge you guys to drive out there and take in the magnitude of 800 acres of solar panels,” they said, adding that no one would like to live near that.
A certified appraiser said the project stands to negatively impact property values, and Planning and Zoning board member Mike Doyla asked Kimmet whether landowners who would lease their property spoke that evening. Kimmet said no, and that many of the landowners don’t live locally.
Another board member asked about job creation, and Kimmet said that at peak, they’d need 250 workers, but after the project was built, only one person would oversee both projects in Montezuma and Dolores counties.
Just three of the six planning and zoning board members were present at the meeting and agreed to reject the proposed project – Jason Armstrong, Mike Lynch and Doyle.
Lynch underscored the “rural character” of Montezuma County and said zoning should match the land use. Solar on ag land is a change of use, he said, and the board rejected Juwi’s application because there was no rezoning application.
Later, Kimmet told The Journal that the big turnout spoke to the “passion which ties residents to the land.”
“I remain hopeful that a middle ground exists whereby, through constructive dialogue, the important continuation of agricultural practices in the Goodman Point area, perhaps via sheep grazing, can be married with the important generation of affordable electricity.”
