Commissioners table solar power purchase agreement after local labor, contract questions

Pueblo County commissioners on July 28 tabled consideration of a power purchase agreement with Solon for a roughly 2.7‑megawatt photovoltaic array intended to offset electricity at the county detention center and other county buildings.

Dave Zupan, who helped negotiate the agreement, described a 12–14 month design and build timeline, a 7.2¢/kWh rate and estimated first‑year production of about 5,500,000 kilowatt‑hours. He said Solon will own and maintain the system and the county will be a power purchaser through virtual net metering. “They’re guaranteeing us that if you enter into this agreement, we guarantee we’ll give you this much power every year,” Zupan said.

Several commissioners and a local labor representative pressed for written commitments to use the county’s local workforce and apprenticeship programs. The labor representative argued the county should leverage the project to secure high‑quality local construction jobs and referenced the Tri Trade Solar agreement as an established framework for doing so. Zupan said Solon has indicated verbally it intends to use local electricians and contractors but declined to accept local labor language in the contract during negotiations. County counsel recommended tabling the item to allow attorneys and staff to explore whether the county can add reporting or responsible‑contracting language before executing the lease‑with‑option to purchase. The board voted to table the item and directed staff to return with proposed contract language and reporting options.