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PARK CITY, UTAH — Several Colorado resort valleys now have what has variously been called solar gardens or solar farms, and there's talk of something similar in Utah's Summit County.
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PARK CITY, UTAH — Several Colorado resort valleys now have what has variously been called solar gardens or solar farms, and there's talk of something similar in Utah's Summit County.

The basic idea is that while it's fine to put solar panels atop your own house, it makes more economic and operating sense to pool resources with your neighbors at some shared location, such as on the edge of town. Buying in bulk, the panels come cheaper, and they can be maintained more easily. As well, the financing can be done in bulk.

The Park Record says that a community solar project in Salt Lake City has 64 subscribers, and the idea is being studied in Summit County.

The first such solar garden in Colorado was at El Jebel, down-valley from Aspen. Breckenridge now has two, and others have been built or are planned west of Vail and Telluride, among other locations in Colorado.