Monthly Archive for October, 2009

Is base load an outdated concept?

Published on October 29, 2009 in Transmission. 0 Comments Tags: , .

For utilities, a balanced portfolio of resources reliably, affordably and responsibly serves the demands of consumers.

So as part of the Colorado New Energy Economy Conference held October 20 in Denver, Tri-State participated in a panel discussion with the provocative title “Is base load an outdated concept?”

So really, what is “base load?”

For an electric utility, base load “demand” is simply the 24×7, continuous requirement for power. This “always on” requirement varies widely among utilities. For Tri-State and our member co-ops, the rural industries we serve give us a higher base load demand than urban utilities.

An interconnected network of base load “resources,” including nuclear, coal, biomass, hydroelectric and geothermal technologies typically are used to meet base load demand. These provide the backbone of the electric system, are redundant to support reliability and outages, and are designed to operate around-the-clock.

And while these base load resources have longer lead times for development and high capital costs, their efficient design and lower fuel costs support electricity affordability.

So is base load an outdated concept?

Absolutely not – in fact, base load demand exists and will grow. Peak shaving with distributed solar technologies, demand-side management and smart grid technology, and even plug-in vehicles charged at night increase the efficiency of electric system and increase base load demand!

Looking forward, a better question is “Are the current suite of base load technologies the ‘right’ technologies to meet future 24X7 demand?”

New base load resource technologies are developing – these include coal and gas plants with carbon capture and sequestration, next generation nuclear power plants and the expanded use of geothermal power plants. The integration of renewable resources, energy storage and load management systems provide options, as do distributed generation technologies with base load-serving qualities (where co-ops are leaders).

At Tri-State, we’re investing in several initiatives that provide resource options. These include demonstration projects and studies on carbon capture and sequestration, solar/fossil hybrid power plants, biomass co-firing and energy storage. These initiatives are all part of our Greenhouse Gas Management Roadmap.

We are pursuing multiple options – both central station and distributed generation. These technologies need time to develop, and we must as a country continue to invest in technology research, development, demonstration and commercialization.

In the meantime, we’ll work to ensure continued electric system affordability and reliability as new technology options become commercially available. We’ll invest in transmission infrastructure that preserves options, and we’ll continue to encourage energy efficiency and demand-side management.

Tri-State exec speaking at international solar conference

Published on October 26, 2009 in Renewable Energy. 0 Comments Tags: , .

Earlier this year, Tri-State and Tempe, Ariz.-based First Solar, Inc. announced the development of a 30-megawatt solar photovoltaic power plant in northeastern New Mexico. So it’s only appropriate that Tri-State’s Mac McLennan will speak on Oct. 27 to how utilities are driving the solar market at the Solar Power International 2009 conference in Anaheim, California.

The Cimarron I project will include 500,000 thin-film solar panels and will be among the largest solar projects in the world when it becomes operational at the end of 2010.

Utilities are expected to be the biggest driver for the U.S. solar market expansion in the next five years. Mac will participate on a panel of utility executives to discuss what’s driving the market, the business models utilities are using and the various policy options. Also joining Mac for the 11:00 a.m. session are representatives from Public Service Electric & Gas Company (Newark, N.J.), CPS Energy (San Antonio, Texas.) and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (San Francisco, Calif.)

Tri-State member United Power offers consumers a piece of the solar (power) pie

Published on October 21, 2009 in Renewable Energy. 0 Comments Tags: .

What if you wanted solar energy, but couldn’t afford the price tag for installation, or didn’t have a suitable place to install panels? Tri-State member cooperative United Power has developed a program that illustrates the cooperative model in its purest form, while simultaneously diversifying its energy load with renewable power.

The venture ­- Sol Partners Cooperative Solar Farm – is a first-of-its-kind cooperative solar farm supported by individual member investments. As part of United Power’s New Energy program, the solar farm is another concept of the continuing effort by the co-op to provide unique and innovative solutions for its members, allowing them to personally invest in green resources.

As part of the program, United Power member consumers may lease a 210-watt solar panel for a 25-year period, during which time they reap all the benefits of the panel in the form of solar credits on their electricity bills.

Members who participate in the Sol Partners program also have the added benefit of monitoring the production of their panel(s) in real-time through the program’s Web site.

Located just northwest of United Power’s headquarters building in Brighton, Colo., the initial Sol Partners module consists of 48 photovoltaic panels representing 10 kilowatts of power.

United Power anticipates that one 210-watt panel will produce nearly a three-percent return on its investment or approximately $32 per year in electricity credits. On average, it requires 20 panels to offset 100 percent of the electric usage for an average home.

Check out the recent Wall Street Journal article that covered the Sol Partners Cooperative Solar Farm and talked to program participants.

“The solar farm is self-sustaining, funded entirely by participants,” said Laurel Eller, United Power communications specialist. “It’s truly a cooperative.”

Delivering Power Safely

Published on October 21, 2009 in Transmission. 0 Comments Tags: .

Each day, hundreds of men and women report to work at each of Tri-State’s transmission and electric generating facilities to ensure a reliable power supply is available for each of its 44 member cooperatives. Doing this job in a safe manner is a challenge these workers strive to meet every minute of the work day.

At Tri-State, one of the most important values across the organization is the safety of its employees and to exceed established safety requirements at all its facilities.

Recently, Tri-State became the first cooperative to earn the prestigious Zia Star Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) status from the New Mexico Environment Department’s (NMED) Occupational Health and Safety Bureau at its Escalante Generation Station in Prewitt, N.M. The status recognizes companies with exemplary health and safety management systems that maintain injury and illness rates below the national average for their industry. Average VPP worksite records days away and restricted job at 52 percent below the industry average.

At a ceremony held late last month, NMED Secretary Ron Curry stated, “Escalante Station has demonstrated its commitment to the safety and health of its workers by applying for and attaining VPP recognition. We are pleased to have them as a partner in our efforts to make New Mexico the safest state in the country in which to work.”

VPP is a benchmark of excellence and safety. The challenge ahead for Tri-State’s employees is to maintain its status as they work toward a common goal of keeping each other safe, while providing reliable electricity across Tri-State’s 250,000 square mile service territory.