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By Joe Smyth | joe@cleancooperative.com | @joesmyth
Wind energy projects are increasing jobs, tax revenue, and lease payments to landowners in the Eastern Plains of Colorado - and in the process, attracting support from leaders of both major parties in the state.
State legislators and other officials joined Xcel Energy and wind turbine manufacturer Vestas this week to highlight the economic benefits of wind energy in eastern Colorado, with a tour of the 600 megawatt Rush Creek wind energy project. The wind energy project in Cheyenne, Elbert, Kit Carson and Lincoln counties is currently under construction, and is expected to come online in October 2018. “Wind is a huge win-win for rural Colorado,” said Shawn Martini, Vice President of Advocacy for the Colorado Farm Bureau. “Rush Creek is just one project and we’re poised to see even bigger investments should Xcel Energy’s Colorado Energy Plan be approved by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, which, for the growth and health of our communities, we hope they do.” Xcel Energy’s Colorado Energy Plan would mean a major expansion of renewable energy in the state, including additional major wind energy projects in eastern Colorado. According to an analysis from the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado Boulder that was filed last week last with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC), the Colorado Energy Plan would result in net economic benefits in Colorado, including a net increase of 549 jobs.
By Joe Smyth | joe@cleancooperative.com | @joesmyth
Two reports this month provide new details about Xcel Energy’s Colorado Energy Plan, including a glimpse at even lower bid prices for new renewable energy projects in the state, and an analysis of the impacts of the plan to jobs and tax revenue in Colorado and Pueblo County.
Xcel Energy's proposal would close two of the three units at the Comanche coal plant in Pueblo, Colorado, and replace that power with a mix of new resources including 1100 megawatts of wind energy, 700 megawatts of solar energy, 275 megawatts of energy storage projects, and the purchase of 380 megawatts of existing natural gas capacity. The Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is considering the proposal, and several labor, environmental, business, and community groups in Colorado are engaged in that process. In January, we saw the bid prices for new renewable energy projects that Xcel Energy received, which showed that new wind and solar power in Colorado is now cheaper than existing coal plants. Those renewable energy project bid prices were so low, they attracted interest from a wide array of energy industry analysts and publications. But that earlier report only showed median prices of the bids that Xcel had received: $18/MWh for new wind energy, $30/MWh for new solar projects, and $36/MWh for solar with battery storage projects. This month, Xcel Energy filed a more in-depth report with the Colorado PUC, which provides additional details about the renewable energy project bids it received. And while the new report doesn't include pricing details for specific projects, it does show the price range of bids that came in below those median prices: The Preferred CEPP includes unprecedented low pricing across a range of generation technologies including wind at levelized pricing between $11-18/MWh, solar between $23-$27/MWh, solar with storage between $30-$32/MWh and gas between $1.50 - $2.50/kW-mo. The lower end of those ranges rival some of the record-breaking low solar energy prices we've seen in recent months around the sunny Southwest. By Joe Smyth | joe@cleancooperative.com | @joesmyth Efforts by two Colorado utilities to expand access to renewable energy were recognized this week with national awards from the Smart Electric Power Alliance. Xcel Energy Colorado President Alice Jackson was named “Power Player of the Year” for her role in bringing together stakeholders to develop a plan for the company to exceed Colorado’s renewable portfolio standard. Poudre Valley Electric Association (PVREA) won the award for “Electric Cooperative Utility of the Year” for its role in developing the Coyote Ridge Community Solar Farm, which helped expand solar power opportunities for low and moderate income members of the co-op. “To win this award is such an honor for Poudre Valley REA. We developed the Coyote Ridge Community Solar Farm as a mechanism to serve all our members with solar energy and we’re proud to be able to deliver that opportunity,” said PVREA President and CEO Jeff Wadsworth, “Many thanks to our partners and employees who worked on this innovative project that created solar energy opportunities for all our members, and to our members for supporting us in this endeavor.”
By Joe Smyth | joe@cleancooperative.com | @joesmyth
The Trump administration's latest proposal to subsidize coal and nuclear power plants is more expansive than earlier efforts, and a key change could impact utilities and ratepayers in the Western United States. That change follows a recommendation by Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association to expand coal plant subsidies to the Western region.
Tri-State's Escalante coal plant in New Mexico
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Recent ArticlesNext PUC Commissioner John Gavan "consensus choice" of Governors Hickenlooper and Polis
Tri-State policy change discourages battery projects in rural Colorado and New Mexico Colorado Public Utilities Commission orders Tri-State to "satisfy or answer" exit charge complaint from Delta Montrose Electric United Power seeks solutions to "increasingly outmoded G&T business models" Clean Energy Means Business Summit highlights renewable energy opportunities and challenges in rural Colorado Governor-elect Jared Polis says moving Colorado toward more renewable energy will be a top priority Electric cooperative officials discuss cheap renewable energy and an “eroding monopoly” Delta Montrose Electric members vote for new financing options, supporting a potential buyout of Tri-State contract Poudre Valley Electric requests Tri-State policy changes and fuel mix study Holy Cross Energy plans to shift away from coal, aiming for 70% renewable energy What do corporate renewable energy commitments mean for electric utilities? Colorado Energy Plan approval will mean new renewable energy investments in rural Colorado Report: Tri-State could save $600 million by shifting from coal to renewable energy Delta Montrose Electric seeks new financing options to end contract with Tri-State Wind energy jobs in rural Colorado attract bipartisan support Colorado Energy Plan analysis shows switching from coal to renewable energy will boost jobs and local tax revenue Poudre Valley Electric and Xcel Energy Colorado President win national awards from Smart Electric Power Alliance Latest coal plant subsidy proposal could hit electricity bills in the West Moody’s report: “High quality renewable resources” could help Tri-State and Basin Electric navigate rising carbon transition risks Senator Heinrich highlights “frustrations in New Mexico” with Tri-State’s limits on local solar Moody’s report shows Tri-State’s coal plants are more expensive than new renewable energy Tri-State’s limits on local energy development are a growing problem for co-op members Governor Hickenlooper discusses Tri-State at the Climate Leadership Conference Bids for Xcel’s Colorado Energy Plan include a proposal for the world’s largest battery New wind and solar power in Colorado is now cheaper than existing coal plants Companies' 100% renewable energy goals are getting results in Colorado What does cheap solar mean for electric cooperatives? Colorado towns and cities are helping push utilities to embrace renewable energy How are electric cooperatives navigating the transition from coal to cheap clean energy? Blocked from building more solar projects, United Power shifts to community batteries Economic reality sets in for Tri-State efforts to expand the Holcomb coal plant Solar projects in the works in Grand and Jackson counties Mountain Parks Electric grapples with solar Categories
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