The future of microgrids: Colorado launches energy park

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Quick Take: Without much notice or fanfare, microgrids continue to crop up. Here a subdivision. There a military base. There a college campus. And now Colorado is launching what we think is one of the most appealing forms – a start-from-scratch, self-contained energy park. As the economy improves and construction heats up, we predict energy parks and microgrids will become one way developers seek a competitive edge for their new projects. – Jesse Berst

Plans for an ambitious multi-faceted energy and research park in northern Colorado have been approved by local county commissioners. The 640-acre project, Niobrara Energy Park, will include natural gas and renewable energy generation plants with onsite storage, cloud computing data centers and facilities for scientists, institutions, engineers and others to research energy systems integration, renewables, smart grid and energy storage.

The project has received broad support from government officials, the energy industry and researchers. Dag Nummedal, director of the Colorado Energy Research Institute at the Colorado School of Mines, said in a letter supporting the project, "Your proposed energy park could become a national center of learning in how to best manage the hybrid fossil fuel plus renewable energy infrastructure." He added that the park concept is beyond anything planned elsewhere in the country because of the planned onsite energy storage.

Developer Harrison Resource Corporation, a Colorado natural resource firm, will now move to step two: working with the companies, institutions and organizations that have been enthusiastic about the project. Craig Harrison, CEO of Harrison Resource, commented, "Niobrara Energy Park is situated in the perfect location, strategically between gas and electric hubs, allowing for stabilization of grid energy and peak demands." He added that he didn't know yet if the park will be developed one piece at a time or if a partner will step in and help Harrison Resource build it as one comprehensive project. "Either way, I'm very excited to bring such an important and historic center to Colorado."

The park will use onsite and offsite renewable energy and clean natural gas from the Niobrara, said to be one of the "hottest" oil and gas shale regions in the country. The proposal also includes plans for a gas gathering and processing facility, a gas-fired electric plant, a 200-acre solar farm and a mega data center.

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