Monthly Archive for May, 2010

Member local renewable projects approaching 25 MWs

Published on May 28, 2010 in Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy and Resource Planning. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

A growing number of Tri-State member systems are taking advantage of Tri-State board policies that provide them with incentives to develop their own local renewable projects in their service territories. As of April 23 a total of 18 projects were in place or were pending board approval under policy 115.

The projects to date under this program range from a proposed geothermal project in New Mexico, at least six solar projects in New Mexico and Colorado, two landfill methane recovery ventures and a half-dozen existing and planned small hydro plants.

The largest member-supplied solar project slated to begin construction this fall on a 40-acre site near Norwood, Colo., is a 2-megawatt capacity PV plant that will be developed and operated by SunEdison Corp. Tri-State member, San Miguel Power Association (Nucla, Colo.) will purchase its output.

A new addition to the member renewable portfolio will be two landfill methane recovery projects that are planned by Poudre Valley REA (Ft. Collins, Colo.) and United Power (Brighton, Colo.). Poudre Valley’s 1.5-megawatt project is scheduled for completion by early 2011 and the larger United Power 4.5-megawatt Erie Landfill site is still in the preliminary planning stage.

Another renewable resource that has seen substantial development throughout the member service territory in the past few years is small hydro projects. Empire Electric (Empire, Colo.) is currently testing its new Cortez Hydro project, according to Susan Hunter, Tri-State’s long-term origination specialist. The 240-kilowatt unit is expected to begin commercial operation later this spring. San Luis Valley (Monte Vista, Colo.) will be bring on its 42-kilowatt Roaring Fork hydroplant this summer and San Miguel also has plans later this year for its third small hydroelectric plant, the 800-kilowatt Bridal Veil project.

To date, the largest distributed generation projects that are in operation are the 5.8- megawatt Williams Four Corners waste gas plant located in La Plata Electric’s (Durango, Colo.) service territory and the 4-megawatt Trailblazer waste heat recovery plant sited in Highline Electric’s (Holyoke, Colo.) service area. If all planned projects are completed as scheduled, Tri-State’s members will be producing a total of 25 megawatts of local renewable generation by next year.

Webcam documenting Kit Carson Windpower construction

Published on May 26, 2010 in Renewable Energy. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

Construction crews are hard at work at the site of the Kit Carson Windpower Project in east-central Colorado. And, with the recent installation of a webcam, off-site spectators can watch the action as it unfolds.

The project, collaboration between Duke Energy Corp. and Tri-State, involves the construction of 34, 1.5-megawatt wind turbines. To date, workers have erected more than 13 towers.

The webcam allows viewers to track the progression of the project with photos captured every 15 minutes.

Tri-State hosts Kit Carson Windpower update meeting

Published on May 21, 2010 in Public Meetings and Renewable Energy. 0 Comments Tags: , .

Tri-State staff and representatives of Duke Energy hosted an update on the Kit Carson Windpower project this week (May 19) in Burlington, Colo., to apprise the local community on construction progress of the nearby 51-megawatt wind farm that will supply renewable power to Tri-State’s co-ops beginning in 2011.

Although a planned tour of the site was postponed due to poor weather, approximately 35 people, including county commissioners, K.C. Electric board members, local government representatives and media were briefed on the project by both Duke Energy (the builders of the project) and Tri-State.

Jim Van Someren, communications manager, gave an overview of Tri-State’s role in the project, as well as some details on other renewable activities that are in the works. Brad Jones, public affairs manager, updated the group on transmission projects and Duke Energy’s Tom Marra provided a detailed presentation on construction activities at the wind site.

A Home Run for Together We Save

Published on May 20, 2010 in Energy Efficiency and Public Outreach. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

The region’s Touchstone Energy cooperatives are going to be playing ball this spring and summer with Fox Sports Net Rocky Mountain, through an advertising/sponsorship package recently inked with the Denver-based regional cable network. FSN will be broadcasting 150 Colorado Rockies games live from April through September and we’ll be running Touchstone Energy’s “Together We Save” messaging throughout the season.

The electric co-op brand will be most visible during the network’s 26 Sunday afternoon broadcasts, which will include a 30-second commercial in the pre-game show “Rockies All-Access,” a 30- and a 15-second commercial within the game, as well as a weekly in-game segment called the “Touchstone Energy Save of the Week,” featuring an energy-saving tip along with a Rockies defensive highlight from the week.

Covering all of Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico and western Nebraska (not to mention Utah and parts of other surrounding states), FSN’s broadcast map nearly replicates Tri-State’s member system service territory. The network can be found on Comcast Cable channel 26 (665 in high definition), Dish Network channel 414, DirecTV channel 683 and on nearly 700 additional stations on local cable systems. A complete list can be found at http://rockymountain.fsninsider.com/channel.php.

DMEA receives $197,000 for heat pump program

Published on May 19, 2010 in Energy Efficiency and Public Outreach. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

Last week the Colorado Governor’s Energy Office (GEO) announced that Tri-State member Delta-Montrose Electric Association (Montrose, Colo.), a Tri-State G&T member-cooperative, was among the recipients for grants to businesses, school districts and other organizations interested in promoting energy efficiency projects.

DMEA received a total of $197,500 to partner with the GEO in offering a grant program for residential ground source heat pump projects. The Western Slope co-op is already a leader in bringing this energy-saving heating and cooling technology to many of its consumers in the region.

These grants, funded with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act dollars, are aimed at creating and retaining jobs, strengthening local economies and helping consumers save money and energy.

Tri-State hosts Colo. ranchers’ carbon credit event

Published on May 18, 2010 in Clean Energy, Energy Efficiency and Public Outreach. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

On May 16th Tri-State’s Mac McLennan, senior vice president of external affairs, was joined by Colo. Gov. Bill Ritter, representatives from the Colorado Department of Agriculture, Baca County Conservation District and other state agencies to present a check to Walsh, Colo. ranchers Todd and Mary Randolph for their participation in a agriculture carbon credit program.

The Randolphs are one of two Baca County ranch families who have contracted with Tri-State to take part in this five-year demonstration project in which farmers and ranchers can obtain carbon credits for adopting land management practices that result in reductions or avoidance of greenhouse gas emissions.

“If there is to be federal climate legislation, Tri-State believes the unlimited use of verifiable carbon offsets should be available to utilities in any potential federal cap-and-trade regime,” said McLennan. Under the State of Colorado’s Agriculture Carbon Offset Program, the availability of cost-effective offsets could allow rural communities that Tri-State’s member cooperatives serve to participate in the carbon offset market. The G&T also hosted a barbecue for the town of Walsh, where Gov. Ritter was also on hand to provide a commencement speech to high school graduates.

REA marks 75th anniversary

Published on May 17, 2010 in General. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

Tuesday, May 11, 2010, marked a significant milestone for the nation’s rural electric cooperatives. It was on that day 75 years ago that President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed an executive order that created the Rural Electrification Administration.

REA is hailed as having the greatest impact on rural American, credited with transforming a life of challenges into one of productivity and prosperity. Today, REA’s successor, the Rural Utilities Service, continues that mission by focusing on rural develop projects, financing electric, telecommunications and water and waste systems across the country.
“With the help of REA, electric cooperatives changed the way rural America works and lives,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “Today’s rural electric cooperatives are innovative leaders, delivering smarter infrastructure to deploy broadband and develop renewable energy.”

For the nearly 60 years of Tri-State’s existence (incorporated in 1952), the Westminster, Colo.-based wholesale power supplier to 44 electric co-ops and public power systems, has relied upon government-backed, guaranteed loans from the REA, and its successor the RUS, to help it fund needed power supply infrastructure to meet the growing requirements of its member systems.