NextEra Energy Resources and Platte River Power Authority broke ground on the 100MW Weld Energy Center in Weld County, Colo., according to a June 9 press release.
The companies said the battery energy storage project represents a $141 million local investment, is expected to generate more than $6.8 million in tax revenue over 20 years and will create more than 200 construction jobs.
Platte River said the project will store excess energy, support renewable integration, and add grid flexibility as the utility moves toward retirement of its flagship coal unit in 2029.
NextEra Energy Resources and Platte River Power Authority broke ground on the Weld Energy Center, a 100-megawatt battery energy storage project in Weld County, Colo., according to a June 9 joint press release.
The project is Platte River’s first large-scale battery energy storage facility. The release said Weld Energy Center LLC, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, will own and operate the northern Colorado facility.
The companies said the project will store excess energy and discharge it when electricity demand is highest. They added that the battery system is intended to strengthen grid reliability, support renewable integration, and help meet growing power demand.
A June 9, 2026, groundbreaking image from the joint press release by NextEra Energy Resources and Platte River Power Authority. The companies broke ground on the Weld Energy Center, a 100-megawatt battery energy storage project in Weld County, Colo. Image: NextEra Energy
The Colorado groundbreaking comes as battery deployment accelerated nationally. In a recent ConstructConnect News report, citing the U.S. Energy Storage Market Outlook Q1 2026 from the Solar Energy Industries Association and Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, the U.S. installed 57.6 gigawatt-hours of new energy storage capacity in 2025, up 30% from 2024 and four times 2022 levels.
That report said the market is being driven by rising electricity demand tied to data centers, AI infrastructure and broader electrification, while utilities seek fast-response capacity that can store excess power and deliver it when demand spikes.
The Weld Energy Center storage project will be built near a solar facility that serves Platte River and will connect to the utility’s newest substation. The companies said the location will allow the battery system to enhance the existing solar site, improve grid performance, and add flexibility during peak usage and extreme weather.
Battery storage is one of the fastest and lowest-cost ways to add capacity to the grid, the release said, allowing utilities to meet peak demand without adding new conventional generation resources.
A battery energy storage facility is shown in a stock image. Image: Shutterstock
NextEra Energy Resources and Platte River said the project will bring a $141 million local investment to Weld County.
The project is expected to generate more than $6.8 million in tax revenue over 20 years and create more than 200 construction jobs. The companies said that tax revenue will support schools, public safety and infrastructure improvements across Weld County.
Officials also said local contractors and suppliers will be used during construction, supporting regional economic activity and workforce development.
The project site is leased from the state of Colorado, with 95% of revenue from the land lease directed to Colorado Public Schools.
In the release, Platte River General Manager and CEO Jason Frisbie said the project is part of the utility’s preparation for retirement of its flagship coal unit in 2029 and is intended to support reliability during its clean energy transition.
NextEra Energy Resources Vice President Dexter Liu said that battery storage is taking on a larger role as electricity demand rises and that the Weld Energy Center is designed to support reliability, jobs and long-term energy supply in Colorado.
NextEra Energy Resources said it is America’s largest energy infrastructure developer and builder and had about 37,505 MW of net generating capacity in operation at year-end 2025. Platte River is a community-owned public power generation and transmission utility serving Estes Park, Fort Collins, Longmont and Loveland, Colo.
Blythe McCoy Energy Solar center in Blythe, California on September 1, 2021. Image: NextEra Energy
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