Glenwood Springs, CO, September 29, 2026 – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) visited Glenwood Springs on Tuesday to meet with officials from Holy Cross Energy (HCE), Pitkin County, and the State of Colorado.

The DOE delegation, led by Assistant Secretary for Electricity Katie Jereza, visited the HCE distribution control center, HCE’s DOE-funded wildfire risk reduction project in Glenwood Springs, and the Aspen Pitkin County Airport Microgrid site.

Backed by a nearly $96.75 million grant from DOE’s Office of Electricity, HCE is working with NRECA Research to lead the Wildfire Assessment and Resilience for Networks (WARN) Consortium of 35 rural electric cooperatives across the West and Midwest in strengthening their electric systems and reducing wildfire risk.

During the visit, the DOE officials saw the first completed phase of HCE’s project which will move 4.5 miles of above-ground power lines underground in a high wildfire near Glenwood Springs. The area has an elevated risk for wildfire creating significant safety issues for the nearby residential homes as well as the many outdoor recreational areas used by the local community in the vicinity.

 “We’re putting federal dollars to work,” said Katie Jereza, assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity. “Together, with Holy Cross Energy, NRECA, and rural electric cooperatives, we’re investing in a stronger grid to reduce wildfire risk, protect livelihoods, and deliver dependable power to rural communities.”

“Without the funding support from the Office of Electricity, HCE would not have been able to bring this important project forward at this time,” said Bryan Hannegan, HCE’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Thanks to DOE’s support, over the next several years, small electric cooperatives in our WARN Consortium will be able to harden their grids, protect their communities, and employ advanced technologies to reduce wildfire risks throughout the West.”   

The day concluded with a visit to the new Aspen Pitkin County Airport and Business Center (AABC) Microgrid project, a State of Colorado-funded collaboration between HCE, Pitkin County, and the Roaring Fork Transit Authority. This microgrid supports critical public services with nearby power sources and a large-scale energy storage system, enabling the creation of an independent energy island that can generate, use, and store energy during a grid outage.

The project has been generously supported by grant programs offered through the Colorado Department of Local Affairs. Work is presently under way with funding support from the Department of Energy’s Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office to explore the use of geothermal energy to meet more of the Airport’s energy needs in the future.

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 member-owners 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. Its 100×30 goal is to provide members with 100% clean energy by 2030 and achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2035. For more information on HCE, please visit www.holycross.com.