Why This Matters
Adams County has powered Colorado’s growth for decades — but too often, our communities have carried the burden of rising energy costs and pollution.
Today, we have an opportunity to build something better.
Clean energy like solar and battery storage can:
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Lower long-term energy costs for families
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Keep the lights on during extreme weather and peak demand
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Reduce air pollution and protect community health
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Bring new investment and jobs to our county
What We’re About
Adams County for Clean Energy Coalition is a growing group of local residents, businesses, and community groups working together to support responsible clean energy development in our county. We believe in keeping energy affordable for families, ensuring reliable power for a growing community, protecting clean air and water for future generations, and making sure local voices help shape local decisions.
Read more about what drives this coalition on our "Who We Are" page.
UTILITY-SCALE SOLAR 101
How Utility-Scale Solar Works
Utility-scale solar projects generate large amounts of electricity that are delivered directly to the power grid — helping supply energy to thousands of homes and businesses across Adams County.
These projects are built to operate efficiently at scale, producing reliable, low-cost electricity during the day when the sun's energy is abundant.
When paired with energy storage, solar power can be saved and used later, helping keep energy flowing even after the sun goes down or for times when demand is high.
Why Solar Matters for Adams County
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Lower energy costs: Solar is one of the cheapest sources of electricity today — helping keep long-term utility bills stable.
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Clean, pollution-free power: Solar produces electricity without emitting harmful air pollution.
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Reliable when paired with storage: Solar works hand-in-hand with battery storage to keep power flowing even when the sun isn’t shining.
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Water-smart energy: Solar uses little to no water — helping conserve resources for our communities and agriculture.
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Responsible land use: At the end of a solar project’s lifecycle, the panels can be removed, recycled and the land restored.
ENERGY STORAGE 101
What Energy Storage Is & What It Does
What Is Energy Storage?
Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are large, rechargeable batteries that store electricity for later use — similar to the batteries in your phone or laptop, but scaled up to serve entire communities.
What Does It Do for Us?
These systems store energy when it’s plentiful and affordable, like during sunny days when solar power is abundant, and deliver it back to the grid when it’s needed most, such as in the evening or during periods of high demand.
That means batteries can store energy during periods of low demand when it’s cheap and used later when demand and prices rise, helping keep costs down and power flowing reliably.
Energy storage is a key part of a modern, dependable energy system — helping keep the lights on, reducing strain on the grid, and supporting cleaner energy across Adams County.
Why Energy Storage Matters for Adams County
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Keeps the lights on: Provides backup power during outages, extreme weather, or high demand.
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Helps lower costs: Stores lower-cost energy and delivers it when prices rise.
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Supports a stronger grid: Balances supply and demand to prevent disruptions.
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Is safe and well-regulated: Built with advanced safety systems and strict oversight, and coordinated with local emergency responders.
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Is quiet and low-impact: No emissions, minimal noise, and very little traffic once operational.
BETTER TOGETHER ☀️🔋
Solar makes our power. Storage saves it for when we need it.
Solar and battery energy storage systems (BESS) work best as a team. Solar produces clean, low-cost energy during the day, and energy storage saves that power to use later when demand is higher, like in the evening or during extreme weather.
Together, they make our energy system more reliable and affordable by reducing waste, stabilizing prices, and ensuring power is available when our community needs it most. Building both in Adams County means we can generate and store energy locally — strengthening our grid, supporting our growing population, and creating a healthier, more resilient future for our communities.
