RANGELY I Colorado legislators secured more than $100 million in funding for projects around the state as part of HR 2471 – the “Consolidated Appropriations Act” of 2022. The “omnibus” spending bill represents the first time in a decade that Senate and House Appropriation committees have accepted “Congressionally Directed Spending” (CDS) requests, which Colorado Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper took full advantage of.
“Coloradans from rural to urban parts of our state were presented [with] an opportunity to tell Washington directly about the challenges their communities face.” Senator Bennet told the HT, noting that he was “grateful” funding would be allocated all over the state, including a large chunk for Rangely – $5 million.
Upon finalization of the process, funds are designated for a major “Geothermal Solar” upgrade that when complete will provide locally-generated power for Rangely’s wastewater treatment facilities. The project will use proprietary technology developed by Cogency Power, who pitched the concept of Highly Concentrated Photovoltaic Thermal (HCVPT) to Rangely Trustees last spring. Utilizing highly-efficient aerospace grade solar panels, parabolic mirrors, heat capture and geothermal storage, Cogency’s hybrid power generation/storage solution is designed to create a decentralized power generation/storage option. If effective at a larger scale, the tech could mean reduced energy bills and some level of grid resilience.
In terms of dollar amounts for a total of 64 projects statewide, Rangely’s federal award is near the top at #3. Town Manager Lisa Piering said she appreciated how much money was ultimately awarded to rural western slope communities via CDS requests, noting that the town is waiting to have money on hand before moving forward, which could take up to two months.
Piering also expressed renewed excitement about the potential of the new tech to offer a financial boon for Rangely and northwest Colorado. The project could bring new jobs to the area, and if ultimately successful, lay the groundwork for more expansive operations and economic development of the region.
Piering noted that this potential future would also likely mean partnering with Colorado Northwestern Community College for workplace-training opportunities in areas like installation, maintenance and even manufacturing.
By LUCAS TURNER | [email protected]om
