About Sugar Beet Solar

What is Sugar Beet Solar?

The Sugar Beet Solar project is a utility-scale solar project that will generate 40 megawatts (MW) of electricity, an adjacent 25 MW battery energy storage system (BESS) with an attached 19-acre dedicated open space community park. The project will produce the equivalent of powering approximately 10,000 Colorado homes per year for the next 40 years. Sugar Beet Solar will interconnect into the adjacent Longs Peak substation. The project is located on two parcels owned by Sugar Beet Solar in the town of Mead and two parcels leased by Sugar Beet Solar for a total of 327 acres west of Mead, Colorado. The BESS would enhance sustainable electrical reliability to residents and businesses with the potential to provide power in the event of a grid outage. This reliability asset (battery storage) is currently unavailable in the region.

The Sugar Beet Solar project will generate responsible growth, significant sales, use and property taxes for the Town of Mead. Demands on municipal services will be limited. Following decommissioning of the project, the site will be available for redevelopment, with future development of the site triggering additional rounds of municipal revenues. Consequently, approval of the Sugar Beet Solar project will yield short-term and long-term benefits to the Town of Mead.

The proposed use is low impact, requires minimal water, and does not encroach on prized mountain views when compared to a Residential-Single-Family District use with the equivalent of as many as 550 single family homes. Portions of the project along public rights of way will be screened per city requirements. The location is compatible with the adjacent existing Public Works Facility, Longs Peak Substation, high voltage transmission lines and clean energy producing Maverick Solar Farm.

Sugar Beet Solar is committed to serve as a long-term partner in Mead’s small-town community character priorities and will give future generations in Mead the opportunity to steward and fulfill community needs not yet imagined.

How will the Power Be Transmitted?

The solar panels will be connected to each other and to an on-site substation with underground lines. The Project will interconnect with Platte River Power Authority’s regional transmission system at the 115/230 kV Longs Peak substation, located in between the project area.

Where will the Power Go?

The power will go directly to the grid to serve local communities.

How will Sugar Beet benefit our Community?

In addition to providing Colorado with more clean sustainable energy, Sugar Beet Solar will dedicate approximately 17% of the property for open space and parks including an approximately 19-acre community park, 1.6-mile trail loop, and road setbacks to maintain mountain views. When combined with the Mead Ponds and through subsequent Town master planning, the park properties could become a 30+ acre regional trailhead with the possibility for additional programmed uses such as a dog park, pickleball courts, community gardens, electric vehicle charging stations, and other amenities not currently found in Mead.

The project will be sustainably designed and maintained, quiet, low profile, and considerate of the environment and surrounding land uses. More importantly, Sugar Beet Solar will help implement the Town’s goals and policies as a reliable source of economic development, clean energy, and mental and physical health for the next 40+ years.

Additionally, Sugar Beet Solar will generate $90,000 in property tax revenue during the first year of full operations, which will support local services like schools, libraries, roads, police, fire protection, and other essential government services without increasing the current demand for those services. During the 40-year life of the project, 1.9 million will be generated in property tax. Taxable purchases for the Project will generate an additional 3.28 million in construction-related local sales and use taxes.