Gov. Hickenlooper urged to veto SB 252

Published on May 13, 2013 in General. 0 Comments

Hickenlooper-Veto-SB252-letterColorado Senate Bill 252, which would increase Tri-State’s renewable energy requirement in the state to 20 percent by 2020, was passed by both chambers of the legislature earlier this month and now rests in the hands of Gov. John Hickenlooper for his signature or his veto.

Tri-State, the Colorado Rural Electric Association and a consortium of 25 other Colorado-based organizations that oppose SB 252, delivered a letter to the governor late last week — and placed it as a full-page ad in seven major newspapers across the state yesterday — urging him to consider the negative economic impact the bill would have on rural economies and to veto it.

End-use survey tracks increased AC use, greater natural gas availability

Published on May 10, 2013 in General and Public Meetings. 0 Comments

water-heaterAccording to the latest end-use consumer survey compiled by Tri-State — using data collected by 42 of the G&T’s 44 member systems – 37 percent of electric cooperative member-consumers who responded to the questionnaire are retirees, confirming a trend of increasing older population remaining in rural areas served by the association’s member co-ops.

Findings from the Tri-State/Member 2012 Residential End-Use Survey were reported by Brad Nebergall, senior vice president of energy management, to Tri-State’s directors at the monthly board meeting held May 8 in Westminster. The survey is required every five years by borrowers of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service, which includes Tri-State and most of its members.

Nebergall explained that in addition to meeting the RUS requirement, the survey serves as a useful tool in planning demand-side management and products and services programs.

In the most recent survey, nearly 36 percent of the respondents rely on natural gas for water heating, compared to 28 percent using electricity and 26 percent utilizing propane to heat their water. Similarly, primary home heating fuel was comprised of 33 percent natural gas, followed by propane at 23 percent and 18 percent of consumers who use electricity to heat their homes. Continue reading ‘End-use survey tracks increased AC use, greater natural gas availability’

United Power to harness power from “stranded” natural gas wells

Published on May 7, 2013 in Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

Natural-Gas-WellIn another example of one of the many ways that electric co-ops are bringing value and innovative technologies to their member-consumers, Tri-State’s member system United Power (Brighton, Colo.) will soon be generating power from “stranded” natural gas wells in its service territory.

It is dubbed the BluBox Energy Project and named for the firm BluBox Energy, Inc. of Las Vegas, Nev., which has partnered with United Power to provide the energy modules that will utilize the natural gas from existing wells to fuel a series of small generators (approximately 200 kilowatts each) to produce energy that will be sold under contract to the electric cooperative.

The term “stranded” or “shut-in” gas wells refers to an estimated 3,000 wells in Colorado alone that are located too far from the existing natural pipeline network to economically establish a connection and bring it to the marketplace.

BluBox Energy’s manufacturing facility, where it fabricates the energy modules that will generate power from natural gas wells.

BluBox Energy’s manufacturing facility, where it fabricates the energy modules that will generate power from natural gas wells.

In the past, the comparatively less valuable natural gas emitting from the wells has been flared into the atmosphere to allow energy developers to recover and transport the more valuable crude oil that often resides in the same energy field. However, more stringent environmental regulations, imposed by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, has strictly limited this practice.

“By harnessing this otherwise unused fuel to produce electricity, we expect to add up to three megawatts of distributed generation capacity to our system,” said Jerry Marizza, new energy program coordinator for United Power.

Last month, Tri-State’s board of directors authorized a Policy 115 contract in support of this local distributed generation project.

Marizza says that BluBox hopes to site its generation modules at up to 15 sites within United’s service territory. “The first generators are expected to be on line by late May or June,” he added.

Expanded renewable energy bill lands on governor’s desk

Published on May 3, 2013 in Public Outreach. 0 Comments Tags: , .

SB252Despite the efforts of a broad coalition of rural and urban partners, along with supportive editorials by five of the state’s largest newspapers, legislation known as Senate Bill 252, aimed at doubling Colorado’s current 10 percent renewable energy standard on rural electric cooperatives, has cleared both the House and Senate and is now in Gov. Hickenlooper’s hands. He has 30 days in which to sign it into law, veto it or let it become law without his signature.

The legislation would require the state’s electric co-ops with more than 100,000 meters (which includes only Intermountain Rural Electric Association, a non-Tri-State member) and wholesale power cooperatives, namely Tri-State, to supply at least 20 percent of their electricity from renewable energy sources by 2020. Originally, the bill called for an even more onerous 25 percent renewable requirement, but the House reduced that mandate last week to 20 percent by 2020. Continue reading ‘Expanded renewable energy bill lands on governor’s desk’

United Power solar project is ready for its close-up

Published on May 3, 2013 in Clean Energy, Energy Efficiency and General. 0 Comments Tags: , .

Hangar-160-UP-videoTri-State member system United Power (Brighton, Colo.) has finished construction on its 2-megawatt photovoltaic solar array, referred to as Hangar 160, in rural northern Adams County near the intersection of Highway 7 and Colorado Blvd. The project consists of 7,500 panels and is the largest electric co-op-served solar field in the state of Colorado.

Jerry Marizza, new energy program coordinator for United Power said, “It was a year and a half in the making, but once construction started it was basically a two month project from dirt clods to electrons.”

Pyramid Station recognized for environmental achievements

Published on May 3, 2013 in General. 0 Comments Tags: , .
Tri-State’s Pyramid Generating Station was recently acknowledged as a member of New Mexico’s Environmental Leadership Program.

Tri-State’s Pyramid Generating Station was recently acknowledged as a member of New Mexico’s Environmental Leadership Program.

The employees of Tri-State’s 160-megawatt Pyramid Generating Station (Lordsburg, N.M.) were recently recognized by the state of New Mexico’s Environmental Department as a new member in its Environmental Leadership Program – among a handful of facilities, businesses and other organizations in the state that have shown exemplary diligence and commitment in reducing waste and protecting natural resources.

On Earth Day (April 22), Pyramid Station became a new Bronze Level member of the state’s Green Zia Environmental Leadership Program (GZELP) through its documented environmental efforts during the period of Oct. 2011 through Dec. 2012.

This pollution prevention program targets the processes or practices that generate waste and aims to reduce or eliminate waste at the source.

GZELP is a voluntary program for any type and size of organization implementing sustainable practices. Applicants must document environmental achievements and set future goals. Since its inception in 1999, more than 140 New Mexico organizations and business have participated in the program.

The Tri-State employees who have worked on the Environmental Leadership Program at Pyramid Station are Bill Hiss, combustion turbine foreman, Jason Offutt, combustion turbine maintenance coordinator, along with Will Castle, Derek Grimes and Henry Parra, who are all combustion turbine technicians.

Expanded renewable energy bill speeding through Colorado legislature

Published on April 29, 2013 in Public Outreach and Renewable Energy. 1 Comment Tags: .

SB-252-KEA-Ad_City-WaysThe proposal to increase the amount of renewable energy that Tri-State must deliver to its Colorado member co-ops has received preliminary approval in the Colorado House of Representatives – and could be up for its final vote this week.

As introduced on April 3, Senate Bill 252 — sponsored by state Senate President John Morse, D-Colorado Springs, and House Speaker Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver — would require the state’s electric co-ops with more than 100,000 meters, and utilities that generate and supply electricity on behalf of member co-ops (like Tri-State), to get 25 percent of their electricity from renewable energy sources by 2020. The bill was approved by the Senate on April 15.

But the House last week cut the mandate from 25 percent to 20 percent by 2020. It passed the House on second reading late Friday and was scheduled for a third vote in that chamber yesterday.

Even with the amendment, Tri-State, its member co-ops and the Colorado Rural Electric Association continue to oppose the legislation – which would cost the G&T and its member systems billions of dollars to comply with the higher requirement.

“It’s still unreasonable and unachievable and would do considerable economic harm to rural Colorado,” said Dave Lock, Tri-State’s senior manager of government relations. Continue reading ‘Expanded renewable energy bill speeding through Colorado legislature’

Fight continues against unreasonable renewable mandate legislation

Published on April 23, 2013 in Public Outreach. 0 Comments Tags: .

As a renewable energy mandate bill continues to make its way through the Colorado legislature, Tri-State, its member co-ops, the Colorado Rural Electric Association and several business organizations, agriculture industries, labor unions and rural communities are ramping up their opposition efforts to call out an unfair and misguided legislative process that would have disastrous consequences for the state’s rural economy.

Numerous electric cooperative board members and staff were on hand during the Senate committee’s hearing on the renewable energy bill.

Numerous electric cooperative board members and staff were on hand during the Senate committee’s hearing on the renewable energy bill.

Senate Bill 252, which would require Tri-State to derive 25 percent of its generation mix from renewable resources within the next six and a half years, was introduced on April 3 – well into the legislature’s 120-day session – without any opportunity for consultation or input from the G&T, its member systems or electric co-op member-consumers. It’s estimated that compliance would cost Tri-State up to $4 billion over the next 20 years.

“To be clear, Tri-State and our member systems support the use of renewable energy,” said Tri-State executive vice president and general manager Ken Anderson, “but we oppose unrealistic mandates and we object to being blindsided by a bill so late in the legislative session. At no time prior to the introduction of this bill did its sponsors or its proponents contact us or our co-ops to discuss the bill or its impacts.”

The bill was heard in the Senate State Affairs Committee just four days after it was introduced. After a seven hour hearing – during which the members of the majority party failed to ask a single question of the dozens of electric co-op member-owners in attendance – the bill was passed out of committee on a party line 3-2 margin. The measure was then passed by the full Senate, winning approval by a single vote. Continue reading ‘Fight continues against unreasonable renewable mandate legislation’

Celebrating National Lineman Appreciation Day across America

Published on April 18, 2013 in General. 1 Comment Tags: .

CNMIP-transmission-98Tri-State is proudly celebrating National Lineman Appreciation Day today in honor of the skilled and brave men and women who protect the safety of the American public and keep vital electric power flowing across the nation.

Earlier this week, the U.S. Senate passed a resolution honoring all linemen for their work in keeping the power on and designating April 18, 2013 as National Lineman Appreciation Day.

“Coloradans know well that weather conditions can change rapidly, and that unpredictability can wreak havoc on our electric grid that supplies power to our homes, businesses, and communities,” Senator Michael Bennet said. “The men and women who serve our communities as linemen protect public safety on a daily basis as first responders during storms and other catastrophic events. I am sincerely grateful for their service and willingness to brave dangerous conditions to maintain the energy infrastructure of the country.”

Tri-State employs approximately 40 journeymen linemen and six apprentices. Mac Fellin, maintenance manager for the west side, noted the value of all linemen, including those at Tri-State’s member systems. “They respond day or night in any kind of weather,” he said. “They’re all out there to keep the lights on for everybody.”

Billy DePue, line maintenance superintendent, pointed out that the work of a lineman has changed dramatically in the last 40 years. “The knowledge and skills they need today is incredible,” he said. “They operate heavy equipment, drive large trucks, work from helicopters, report damages electronically, manage vegetation, input all data for structures to the GIS department and more – they’ve become risk managers.” Continue reading ‘Celebrating National Lineman Appreciation Day across America’

Local math class takes a field trip to Craig Station

Published on April 17, 2013 in General and Public Meetings. 0 Comments Tags: .

Algebra-Class-tours-Craig-station_07Students from Moffat County High School’s algebra class visited Craig Station last week for a tour and presentations involving many plant employees including coal handling superintendent Tim Osborn, mechanical engineer Rick Carson, electrical engineer Brandon Haddock, plant manager Rick Johnson (pictured) and maintenance superintendent Bill Johnston.

The goal of the visit was to show the importance of math and science studies and how they are useful in future careers including work at a power plant. Tri-State provided a pizza lunch for the group.