Please note that this has been updated on Oct. 30, 2026, adding total wind and solar in both states to up to 500 MW and construction is now expected to start in 2028.
The Weld County Board of Commissioners has approved the Chalk Bluffs Energy Project, a $1.67 billion wind, solar, and battery storage facility on private ranchland along the Colorado-Wyoming line. Commissioners voted 3-2 on September 23, 2026, to grant the project's state interest facility permit (SIF26-0002). The decision clears a major step in Colorado for one of the region's largest proposed energy investments.
About the Project in Colorado
About 79 wind turbines, ranging from 499 to 596 feet tall, across about 16,000 acres
2,293 acres of solar panels in two solar fields
Two substations
Two battery energy storage systems
Capacity and Timeline
At full build, Chalk Bluffs would generate up to 500 megawatts of wind power and 500 megawatts of solar power. The two sources combine for 805 megawatts, enough electricity to power about 600,000 homes. The project would also include 500 megawatts of battery storage, which stores extra wind and solar power and releases it when demand peaks. Construction is expected to begin in 2028, with the project complete by 2029.
Built on Private Land Partnerships
Ninety-seven percent of the project area is secured through long-term lease agreements with private landowners. The remaining 3% consists of publicly owned state, federal, or municipal land or easements. Participating landowners keep ownership of their property, and ranching can continue alongside the energy facilities.