Utility Executive Roundtable:Co-op renewable energy initiatives

Lee BougheySeptember 16, 2010

TRI-STATE G&T

• Consumer-owned, not-for-profit wholesale power supplier to 44 member co-ops

• Initiatives • Improving existing fleet• Transmission

development• Renewable energy• Energy efficiency• Developing technology

options to manage GHG risk

TRI-STATE UTILITY-SCALE RENEWABLE SUPPLY• Western Area Power Administration hydropower

• Cimarron Solar• Kit Carson Windpower• Other contracts for distributed generation, including small hydro and biomass

• Member renewable and distributed energy contracts

RENEWABLE MANDATES• 10 percent energy in 2020• Applies to member cooperatives in Colorado and New Mexico

• Tri-State will supply renewable energy to meet members’ requirements

• Tri-State supports member development of local renewable energy

RENEWABLES RFP

• Meet Colorado and New Mexico RPS definition

• Commercial technology• Sought least 150,000 MWH per year, equivalent to 50 MW wind farm at 35 percent capacity

• Minimum delivery of at least 15,000 MWH per year

• Fuel and technology neutral

• Cost was key criteria

CIMARRON SOLAR PROJECT

• 30-megawatts• 500,000 thin film panels• 250 acres near Springer, N.M.

• 25-year PPA• Online late 2010• No transmission required• EPC is First Solar• Owned by the Southern Company and Turner Renewable

KIT CARSON WINDPOWER PROJECT• 51-megawatts• 34 GE 1.5 SLE turbines• 6,000 acres near Burlington, Colo.

• 20-year PPA• Online late 2010• No transmission required• Owner and operator is Duke Energy Generation Services

MEMBER LOCAL RENEWABLE PROJECTS

• Policies support local development of resources

• 25 MW Member projects planned or in place

• Kit Carson solar projects in northern N.M.

• Highline Electric (NE Colo.) and La Plata Electric (SW Colo.) recovered energy facilities

• San Miguel Power hydro and solar facilities in SW Colo.

• Poudre Valley REA methane gas facility in northern Colo.

• Delta-Montrose EA hydropower project in western Colo.

SOLAR AUGMENTATION

• Tri-State’s Escalante Station hosting solar augmentation project

• EPRI study on feasibility of integrating concentrated solar power technology with coal-based power plant

• If economical, could provide options to reduce emissions and increase efficiency

BIOMASS AUGMENTATION

• Tri-State’s Nucla Station uses atmospheric circulating fluidized-bed combustion that could support biomass co-firing

• Tri-State’s gas units could use biomass derived oils or gas

• Tri-State evaluating technology and economics – could be cost effective relative to other technologies

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