The proposed Sun Bear Solar Farm on the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation will consist of 2.2 million solar panels and span eight miles by one mile. Tribal officials collaborated with Canigou Group to plan the project, which is expected to create over 500 local jobs. The farm is projected to generate 756 megawatts of electricity annually, costing over $1 billion to build. The electricity will connect to the Western Area Power Administration power line, although the regional entities to which Canigou Group will sell the electricity remain unclear. Ute Mountain Ute Chairman Manuel Heart is optimistic about the job opportunities and the tribe’s shift towards renewable energy.
https://www.ksut.org/news/2024-02-15/ute-mountain-ute-tribe-will-construct-one-of-the-largest-solar-farms-in-the-u-s