For Immediate Release:
Jenna Weatherred
VP, Member and Community Relations
970-947-5470
jweatherred@holycross.com
Holy Cross Energy Provides 100% Renewable Electricity to Members in March
Lower demand, higher wind and solar production lead to new record monthly average
GLENWOOD SPRINGS, CO, June 2, 2026 – Holy Cross Energy (HCE), a Colorado-based electric cooperative, announced today that for the first time, it provided renewable electricity equivalent to 100% of its members’ needs during the month of March 2026. This achievement marks a significant milestone in HCE’s “100×30” goal of providing 100% renewable electricity to its members and communities by 2030.
“Providing 100% renewable electricity – even for just one month – is an important achievement and reflects the hard work of our employees and the vision of our Board of Directors,” said Bryan Hannegan, President and CEO at HCE. “While this is a proud moment, we still have important work ahead to achieve our 2030 goal throughout an entire year, in a responsible way that continues to safely provide the affordable and reliable electricity supply we all depend upon.”
HCE’s success in March was driven by a combination of mild temperatures and favorable conditions for the production of electricity from HCE’s robust portfolio of renewable energy resources, including the Bronco Plains II wind farm (shared with Guzman Energy), the Hunter Solar array (shared with CORE Electric Cooperative), three solar-plus-storage facilities directly connected to the HCE distribution system, and a variety of distributed solar and hydro facilities through HCE’s service territory.
Additionally, HCE’s strategic partnership with The Energy Authority (TEA) played a key role this spring. TEA has acted as an extension of HCE’s staff, leveraging advanced analytics to maximize renewable energy procurement while maintaining grid reliability and affordability. Residual energy supply and capacity needs are met through HCE’s wholesale power supply agreement with Xcel Energy, which itself is increasing its renewable power supply.
HCE has delivered an average of 92% clean energy to its members year-to-date in 2026 through the end of April, with some hours surpassing 100% and others dipping below—requiring supplemental non-renewable generation to meet demand. In 2026, roughly 60% of HCE’s clean energy has come from projects built specifically for and contracted to HCE, providing electricity that is time-matched with Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). The remaining 40% is supplied by wholesale partners and is not time-matched.
###
About Holy Cross Energy
Founded in 1939, Holy Cross Energy (HCE) is a not-for-profit rural electric co-op providing safe, reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy and services that improve the quality of life for more than 45,000 members in western Colorado. HCE was built by and belongs to the diverse communities and members we serve. Membership is open to everyone in our service territory, regardless of race, religion, age, disability, language, political perspective, or socioeconomic status. HCE is committed to leading the responsible transition to a clean energy future with a goal of safely providing 100% clean, affordable and reliable energy to its members by 2030.