Mar. 28--Officials of a group that wants to build a solar energy installation at the Pueblo Chemical Depot think they could have gotten by with an interim lease from the depot's reuse authority but are happy to have the agency's endorsement, nonetheless.

The Pueblo Depot Activity Reuse Authority approved sending a letter March 20 offering its support. Earlier, a related body, the Reuse Commission, voted unanimously that the project was in keeping with the reuse standards.

The authority and commission were set up to oversee civilian uses of the depot while it is still owned by the Defense Department but much of it is unused. The Pueblo base was put on the base realignment and closure list years ago but has remained under military control because of the chemical weapons stockpile that can't be moved.

It will be at least a decade before the weapons are destroyed and the facilities to do that dismantled. In the meantime, the authority leases igloos, warehouses and other areas and sublets those to private and business tenants.

Helios Energy Partners wants to put in solar panels to generate power the company would sell to Xcel Energy. It originally wanted to sublet up to 2,000 acres where it would install photovoltaic solar collectors manufactured by SolFocus, whose products are said to be twice as efficient as typical solar panels. However, Helios needs to be able to show it can meet the terms of a 25-year contract with Xcel. The authority's master lease only goes to 2016 so members said while they liked the project, it would be better to work through another entity and agreed not to sign a memorandum of understanding with Helios.

John Kellogg manager of KRS Energy, another participant in the project, said in an e-mail, "Helios is pleased with the strong support we have received from the authority and will not pursue the execution of the MOU."

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