Pueblo County approves 540‑MW Buffalo Burr solar project with new decommissioning and traffic conditions

Evan Raimondo, a NextEra Energy representative, told the board that the Buffalo Burr Solar project proposes a 540 megawatt utility‑scale photovoltaic facility paired with battery energy storage that could total up to 1,200 megawatts of storage capacity on roughly 2,750 acres north of the town of Boone in Pueblo County. Raimondo said the team updated its decommissioning plan to reflect the latest code, including a 115% bonding amount based on a final cost estimate.

Raimondo asked the commissioners whether a letter from the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) saying an access permit was not necessary would satisfy a traffic‑study condition; Domingo Jimenez Garcia of Public Works confirmed that any CDOT documentation stating whether an access permit is required should be submitted to county staff and would meet the condition. Counsel for the applicant, Andy Spielman, asked the board to include the applicant’s prior materials and portal filings in the record and expressed support for approval. Multiple supporters spoke in favor: Ken Dottie, a Pueblo resident and president of the Renewable Energy Owners Coalition of America, urged support for solar development and said “Pueblo should advertise itself as a major producer of solar generated power.” Sarah Blackhurst, president of Action Colorado, also voiced support and urged commissioners not to delay approval after recent wildfire impacts.

The board had continued the item from the June 11 meeting to allow applicants and staff to address questions; after updates and public comment the chair closed the hearing and the board approved case SLIDash25Dash1.