In 1935, the Central Red Army skillfully crossed the Jinsha River into Liangshan Prefecture, Sichuan Province, traversing the steep mountain gorges and leaving behind a glorious chapter in history. Today, at the intersection of the "dual carbon" strategy and rural revitalization, a new force is deeply rooted in the mountains, developing new energy sources and empowering local development with green electricity. Following the undulating mountain ranges, they are writing a "green report card" for high-quality development in the new era.

Recently, Sichuan Energy New Energy Group Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Sichuan Energy New Energy Group") reported a milestone: by July 15, the cumulative power generation of the Puge Qiyang photovoltaic power station had reached 300 million kWh. Combined with the Dechang Shouchuan photovoltaic power station, which has surpassed 100 million kWh, the total power generation of Sichuan Energy New Energy Group's operational projects in Liangshan has officially exceeded 400 million kWh. A reporter from China Business Journal conducted an in-depth interview in Dechang County, Liangshan Prefecture, and learned that, from "horse-drawn transport" to "green grid connection," the deep Daliang Mountains are undergoing a profound transformation.

Li Jian, Secretary of the Party Branch and General Manager of the Liangshan Branch of Sichuan Energy New Energy Group, emotionally told reporters, "The most intuitive feeling I've had in Liangshan over the years boils down to two words: 'change' and 'hope.' 'Change' means that the barren slopes are now covered with solar panels spreading toward the sun, and wind turbines are turning on the ridges, with clean energy turning from a blueprint into reality. 'Hope' means that after the photovoltaic power station projects were implemented, the local villagers transitioned from being 'spectators' to 'participants,' finding jobs, seeing improvements in travel, and gaining channels to increase their income, truly forging a path of 'green electricity development and rural revitalization working in harmony.'"

Breaking Through Canyon Challenges with "Drone Lifting and Horse Cart Transport"

To discuss the layout of the Liangshan Branch of Sichuan Energy New Energy Group in Dechang, one must mention the Dechang Shouchuan photovoltaic power station. Located at the junction of Cida, Badong, and Rehe towns in Dechang County, at an altitude of 2,900 to 3,300 meters, it is the first centralized photovoltaic project in Dechang County, Liangshan Prefecture, to be connected to the grid and put into operation. It is also the first project Li Jian has fully overseen, from investment and construction to operation and maintenance, since arriving in Liangshan.

Building a power station in the high mountains and deep gorges of Dechang presents significant challenges. Li Jian stated that Dechang is located on a plateau with high mountains and deep valleys, and heavy rainfall during the flood season severely compresses the effective construction period. "At the most difficult times, heavy rain washed away the access roads, large machinery couldn't be brought up the mountain, and支架 and components weighing several tons could only be transported in sections by horses, moving only a few batches per day. The schedule pressure hung like a stone on everyone's chest." Li Jian admitted that the most challenging aspect of mountain photovoltaic projects is not technical issues but rather getting the equipment up the mountain and completing the engineering work.

Facing these challenges, Li Jian led the project team to implement a "combination of strategies": they formed a party member突击队 with the participating units, established a party branch on the project site, and implemented a staggered schedule of "rushing work in sunny weather and resting, reviewing, and optimizing in rainy weather," ensuring continuous operation. They also specially improved the foundation and drainage processes to address the geological conditions of the steep slopes, ensuring structural safety. To overcome the bottleneck of mountain transport, they adopted a multimodal transport solution involving "track transport, drone lifting, and horse cart transport" and set up material supply transfer points on difficult sections.

"Ultimately, we completed the construction task in just five months and achieved a one-time full-capacity grid connection on schedule," Li Jian said. The Shouchuan photovoltaic power station, now fully operational, has an installed capacity of 50,000 kilowatts and a total investment of approximately 250 million yuan. After going into operation, its average annual power generation is about 85 million kWh, which can reduce standard coal consumption by about 26,000 tons and cut carbon dioxide emissions by 47,000 tons per year, yielding significant energy-saving and emission-reduction benefits. "The special significance of this project lies in the fact that it fills the gap in centralized photovoltaic power in Dechang County, providing a replicable and scalable 'Shouchuan experience' for future mountain photovoltaic development." Li Jian told reporters that the Shouchuan photovoltaic power station project is currently operating stably, and the project company is expected to be promoted to a designated-scale industrial enterprise this year. Meanwhile, the Liangshan Branch of Sichuan Energy New Energy Group is actively planning its second-phase expansion work.

Years ago, Li Jian had visited Liangshan as a tourist, seeing the moonlit Qionghai Lake, the light of Lugu Lake, and "poetry and distant places." But after working in Liangshan for many years, he gained a deeper understanding of the region: beneath the mountains lie the province's richest wind and solar resources, but this coexists with the reality of high mountains, deep valleys, weak infrastructure, and significant regional development gaps. The Shouchuan photovoltaic power station is now gradually filling this gap. According to Li Jian, the project's clean power generation averages about 85 million kWh annually, equivalent to meeting the annual electricity needs of approximately 30,000 households. It can also save 26,000 tons of standard coal and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 47,000 tons each year. Since the operation of the Shouchuan photovoltaic power station, Dechang has achieved a "zero breakthrough" in centralized photovoltaic power, and the county's power supply has formed a stable pattern of "water + solar + wind" multi-energy complementarity.

The construction of this project has also boosted local villagers' employment and income. Li Jian mentioned that during the construction period of the Shouchuan photovoltaic power station, it cumulatively employed more than 200 local villagers for tasks such as equipment transport, installation, and logistical support. After the station was operational, temporary positions for weeding, road maintenance, and component cleaning are still prioritized for nearby villagers, allowing them to work and earn money without leaving their hometowns. To address the long-standing issue of difficult travel in mountain areas, the Liangshan Branch of Sichuan Energy New Energy Group is evaluating the comprehensive renovation of the power station's access roads and surrounding village roads, so that villagers no longer have to face "dust on sunny days and mud on rainy days."

Party Building Forges the Spirit, "Green Electricity" Paves the Path for Rural Revitalization

For a team to take root in the mountains, it requires more than just a good project; it also needs organizational strength. It is reported that the Party Branch of the Liangshan Branch of Sichuan Energy New Energy Group deeply integrates party building with business operations, forming a working method of "three integrations, three fronts": First, strategic decision-making integration, where direction is set on the front line. They resolutely implement "party building into the articles of association," defining the legal status of the party organization within the corporate governance structure, and strictly implementing the "three important matters, one large" pre-study procedures to ensure that every major investment decision and important personnel arrangement has the political oversight of the party organization. Second, project攻坚 integration, where the party flag flies on the front line. They adhere to the principle of "establishing a party branch on the project, planting the party flag on the battlefield," setting up party member突击队, party member demonstration posts, and party member responsibility zones at various project sites in Liangshan. Taking the Shouchuan project攻坚 as an example, when transportation was hindered during the rainy season, it was party members who stepped up first; during the sprint phase for grid connection, party members were on duty for the toughest night shifts. They truly embody the principle of "charging forward, withstanding pressure, and winning battles at critical moments." Third, safety management integration, where the defense line is strengthened on the front line. The party branch leads routine safety education, organizing party members to take the lead in identifying hazards, following procedures, and conducting drills, while incorporating safety performance into the "one-vote veto" criteria for party member evaluation and selection. "Promoting the deep integration of party building and business is not a simple 'two separate skins' patchwork, but rather transforming the party organization's political and organizational advantages into project攻坚 advantages and safety advantages," Li Jian said.

Within this team, young employees account for over 70%. They work at stations at altitudes of 2,000 to 3,000 meters, facing not only natural challenges but also psychological challenges such as loneliness. How to keep young people rooted? "Young party members are the backbone of station operation, maintenance, and technical攻坚," Li Jian stated. To retain them, help them settle down, and achieve excellence, the company, first, provides platforms and career paths, building a ladder for young technical growth and implementing a "one-on-one" mentor-mentee system for party member cadres, passing on experience and methods from equipment inspection to fault analysis. It also establishes youth innovation research groups, prioritizing the application of new mountain photovoltaic technologies and topics like wind-solar-storage integration for young teams to lead, ensuring that outstanding young people are seen and valued on the project front line. Second, the company improves the dining, accommodation, internet, and entertainment facilities at high-altitude stations, ensuring that young employees at stations at 2,000 to 3,000 meters above sea level can have hot meals, good internet access, and a decent quality of life. Third, the company regularizes red research activities, enterprise-local co-construction, and volunteer services, organizing young party members to assist farmers in villages, engage in public welfare activities, and conduct safety awareness campaigns. This helps them understand that they are protecting not just equipment, but the responsibility and glory behind the lights of every household. "This sense of spiritual fulfillment cannot be replaced by any material conditions."

The changes brought by the Shouchuan photovoltaic power station project extend beyond the present. Dechang County, located in Liangshan Prefecture, plays the role of a "core support area for clean energy bases" in Sichuan Province's "Fifteenth Five-Year Plan" energy landscape. With the advancement of national-level strategies such as the "Yalong River Basin Water-Wind-Solar Integration Base," Dechang's strategic value as an important node on the southern flank of Liangshan is becoming increasingly prominent. Li Jian told reporters that, looking to the future, Sichuan Energy New Energy Group will focus on three areas in Liangshan: First, actively participating in local government green electricity direct connection projects, accelerating the implementation of the Dechang Phase II project, continuously expanding installed capacity, and forming a concentrated, contiguous development trend. Second, leveraging the group's internal resources and platform advantages to lay out an integrated "wind-solar-storage-hydrogen" development model. The group's business in Liangshan has already expanded to six counties (cities), with a cumulative installed capacity of 364,000 kilowatts in operation, 560,000 kilowatts planned or under construction, and a reserve of projects that are continuously expanding. Third, adhering to the dual-drive strategy of "clean energy + rural revitalization," making every project a "green engine" that drives local development.

Over 90 years ago, the Red Army passed through the Daliang Mountains, forging a path to victory. Today, in the same mountains, a new generation of "light chasers" is using green electricity to pave another path—one where clean energy and rural revitalization advance in harmony, illuminating the future of China's economy's high-quality development.