RIFLE, Colo. (AP) — Former Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter joined area elected officials and business leaders at the grand opening of a solar array at the Garfield County Airport.

The grand opening was Tuesday in Rifle for a five-acre, 858-kilowatt solar farm in western Colorado, believed to be one of the largest community-owned solar projects in the country.

The Clean Energy Collective hosted the grand opening. The collective builds and operates community-based clean energy facilities. It recently signed an agreement with Holy Cross Energy to supply up to 3.5 megawatts of solar-generated electricity through its solar sites.

The 3,575 solar panels at the Rifle site will produce more than 1,500 megawatts of electricity yearly, serving as many 350 of the collective's members.