NORWOOD, Colo. (KREX) — Norwood is a remote town of just 500 people between Nucla and Ridgway on Wright’s Mesa.
Fields and forests surround the city, with single cone mountains watching.
Norwood Mayor Candy Meehan tells Western Slope Now the city is fighting a long-term battle — a company called One Energy is trying to build acres of solar panel sites in the heart of its wooded areas and communities.
Let’s start from the beginning…
Governor Polis hopes to achieve 100 percent renewable energy by 2040. His administration has encouraged renewable energy companies to build on small amounts of public land originally earmarked to lease and generate revenue for public schools.
Norwood library director Carrie Andrew told me that in May 2023, One Energy came to the library to present its plans to residents and San Miguel County officials.
Residents immediately spoke out against the plan — more than 200 people met in person and about 40 participated via zoom. It was the largest meeting recorded in the city’s history. No locals were happy with One Energy’s development.
After the meeting, San Miguel County placed a moratorium on solar installations to develop new regulations while this fight continues.
Candy, Carrie and local Demian Brooks say the sun is welcome, but not on the 640 wooded acres One Energy wants to build.
When local residents tried to reach One Energy through the email officials provided at the meeting, they made a shocking discovery that soured their first impression of the company — they were given the wrong website … and a dead email.
Demian tells West Slope Now that since then, local residents have attended eight meetings about the solar project, the most recent one between San Miguel County commissioners and the planning department on March 27 covering the new codes.
These new codes will guide use on all of Wright’s Mesa, including the square mile section in question.
Candy said Sen. Chris Hansen, who serves the Denver area, has introduced an energy bill that locals fear will drown out Norwood’s voice.
So why is Denver representative and San Miguel County planning director One Energy pushing so hard for this forested land, and why are local residents opposed? I will take a closer look at the second part of this heated debate.