DENVER—Today, U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) announced that Estes Industries in Fremont County has been awarded a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Grant of $520,000 to help them transition to renewable energy. The funding will be used to construct a solar array to fulfill 98 percent of the facility’s yearly energy needs, helping to protect the environment and allowing Estes to continue supporting the local economy and employing Coloradans. This grant is a part of a nationwide program to transition away from fossil fuels and address climate change in rural areas.
“As we find new and environmentally-conscience ways to power our society, we must ensure our small businesses have what they need to be a part of this transformation,” said Pettersen. “I’m glad rural Coloradans are finally seeing federal investments in modern renewable technology that will not only benefit the environment, but the local economy as well. Especially after visiting Estes Industries last year and launching some of their famous model rockets, I know this project will help Fremont County’s renewable transition take off!”
“Estes Rockets has been part of the Colorado community since its founding 65 years ago. We are proud to be able to bring almost a megawatt of new solar power to Fremont County with the support of the US Department of Agriculture,” said Mallory Langford, President of Estes Industries. “This solar power will provide us cleaner, more cost-effective energy and enable us to grow our business in Penrose for years to come.”
According to the USDA, the new solar array will replace 867,022 kilowatt hours (kWh), which is enough to power 80 homes. The funds for the project come from the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), which is funding 700 loans and grants to help agricultural producers and rural small business owners make energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy investments to lower energy costs, generate new income, and strengthen the resiliency of their operations. This funding is made possible in part by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act – the nation’s largest-ever investment in combating the climate crisis.
Estes industries was the first company to be able to mass-produce reliable model rocket engines. They are currently engaged in research, development, testing, and production of small rocket motors that can be used in defense and aerospace projects. The Estes site in Fremont County hosts a design lab, assembly lines, rocket motor manufacturing, warehouses, machinery, and management. The site is also used as an education facility, through Estes’s partnership with the Air Force Academy and Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) for rocket building and testing.
