Mar. 1--Land east of Pueblo could become home to one the nation's largest solar power fields.

Helios Energy Partners, a consortium of firms seeking to build a 200- to 300-megawatt solar plant, met with Pueblo County commissioners this week about the estimated $900 million project.

The proposal calls for a partnership between the county, Helios and the Pueblo Chemical Depot to build the large solar collector array on unused land at the depot.

The likely customer for the power would be Xcel Energy, which is taking bids from energy providers under its plan to boost its renewable energy portfolio. The bids are due by April.

If built, the Pueblo facility could become the largest solar power station in the nation, dwarfing the recently built San Luis Valley array n Colorado's largest n that generates about 9 megawatts. A 200-megawatt station could generate power for upward of 60,000 homes, based on industry estimates. A 300-megawatt site n which would rank as the nation's largest n could supply 90,000 homes.

Pueblo County commissioners and the county attorney's office are currently reviewing a proposed memorandum of understanding that would give Helios exclusivity in dealing with the county.

Paul Seby, a Helios manager, outlined the consortium's proposal.

"We're looking at a partnership with the county in an effort to respond to a request for proposals from Xcel Energy," Seby

said.

Helios is a consortium of three companies: developer KRS Energy, solar panel-manufacturer SolFocus and a financial company that will remain private for now under a nondisclosure agreement.

The group is asking for the county to support the proposal and, in return, the county's gains could go beyond the construction, new jobs and tax revenue to possibly include a share of the profits, Seby said.

Helios will seek to bid on the Xcel proposal with or without the county memorandum but the county's support would lend weight to the bid, Seby said.

The county's involvement would also help when the company approaches the Pueblo Chemical Depot Authority and U.S. Army and asks for land to build the array, he said.

The Pueblo Chemical Depot spans more than 21,000 acres but much of the land is unused. The chemical agent destruction plan now under construction occupies only a small portion.

Long term, the military plans to make all of its unused land available for redevelopment to benefit Pueblo. A number of smaller businesses currently use parts of the site.

Helios seeks a minimum of 2,000 to 3,000 acres of the currently unused land, depending on how much power Xcel would purchase from the company, Seby said.