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Solar PVUnited StatesEIR-0487

Tornado wrecks Pioneer Solar Farm near Bennett, Colorado

May 2025Published 7 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor

SignificantMechanicalProvisional80 MW
Estimated damageEstimated by the register's adjusterHow? Know the real figure?
Figure hidden: shown to subscribersMedium confidence
out of service for about •• daysShown in the record →Full estimate
From the recordRoot cause hiddenFailed part hidden
Where
Pioneer Solar Farm near Bennett, Colorado
Operator
Idemitsu Renewables
What
Tornado caused extensive damage to solar panels
Cause
Tornado
Outcome
No impact on customer supply reliability

Companies named in the reporting of this entry (being named is not a finding of fault): CORE Electric Cooperative, Idemitsu Renewables

What happened

A tornado that touched down near Bennett, Colorado on 18 May 2025 caused extensive damage to the Pioneer Solar installation, an 80 megawatt facility spanning 540 acres that has been operating since late 2020. Photographs showed solar panels ripped and bent, with metal sheeting from nearby farm structures embedded in some panel sections. The same storm system damaged more than a dozen buildings in the nearby town. CORE Electric Cooperative, which purchases power from the site, said it was assessing the damage in coordination with the facility's owner and operator, Idemitsu Renewables.

The utility stated the damage would not affect reliability of supply to its customers, as it has agreements with other solar and wind facilities and a coal plant to diversify its generation portfolio.

Contributing factors

Related reporting indicates tornadoes affecting the Bennett and Elizabeth area were rated EF-2 by the National Weather Service, though this rating is not confirmed specifically for the tornado that struck the Pioneer Solar site. Debris from nearby farm structures, including metal siding, was blown into the solar installation, contributing to panel damage.

Lessons learned

  1. Debris from nearby farm structures can damage solar panels in high winds, so operators should assess surrounding buildings in site risk plans.
  2. A diversified generation portfolio across sites and technologies lets utilities absorb loss of one facility without affecting supply.

More lessons on outages, backup supply and restoration, from every incident on the register.

Not yet known

  • Exact tornado rating at the site
  • Cost of the damage
  • Time to restore full output
  • Panel models and condition

This entry is updated when these are reported. Get an alert for the next one like it.

Source

cpr.org

Site page: Pioneer Solar (CO), LLC (status, dates and other incidents)

Published 2026-09-07. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.

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