Tri-State incentivizes local renewable energy development, enhances efficiency and load management programs

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association’s board of directors has authorized an aggressive, first-of-its-kind in the nation program to incentivize the development of local renewable energy projects across its four-state service territory.  Under the program, the wholesale power provider will make available renewable performance payments to its members to support a variety of community-based renewable energy projects.      

The board also added a number of new incentives to the association’s long-standing Energy Efficiency Credits program and endorsed new emergency load management and control practices.  These programs will assist consumers in reducing their energy costs and support electric system reliability when energy is in short supply.

“Tri-State supports renewable energy and is committed to helping our member electric systems develop their locally-available renewable resources by providing some of the necessary cash flow during a project’s early years,” said Ken Anderson, Tri-State’s newly-appointed executive vice president and general manager.  “Rural communities are rich in solar, wind, biomass, small hydro and geothermal resources, and with financial support, we can help our members invest in local renewable energy projects that support our rural economies.”

The renewable energy incentive program further enables Tri-State members to develop local renewable resources while meeting renewable portfolio standards requirements.  Under the wholesale contracts Tri-State has with each of its 44 members, the association is obligated to provide for each co-op’s complete power requirements, while also allowing the members the alternative of providing renewable generation resources to meet up to 5 percent of their total requirements.  Tri-State’s Colorado and New Mexico members also have responsibilities under state renewable portfolio standards to incorporate renewable power into their energy mix.  Along with Tri-State’s existing renewable portfolio and a solicitation for renewable resources, the newly-adopted local renewable project policy also is aimed at meeting those requirements. 

“We’re concurrently evaluating proposals for Tri-State’s first major solicitation for renewable energy,” Anderson said.  “Combined, all these efforts are part of our continuing goal of further developing our balanced generation portfolio as well as complying with established RPS requirements.”

The board also authorized the addition of a number of new incentives to the association’s long-standing Energy Efficiency Credits program, in which electric co-op member-consumers are eligible for payments when purchasing and installing certain high-efficient water heaters, heating and cooling systems, lighting and electric motors.  In 2007, Tri-State paid out to its membership a total of $1.4 million in EEC incentive payments for end-use co-op consumers who made qualifying energy-saving choices.  Added to the fleet of eligible products will be certain ENERGY STAR heat pumps and air-conditioners, refrigerators and freezers, equipment for certain member load control programs and light emitting diode (LED) lighting strips.

As part of Tri-State’s demand response and load control efforts, the board sanctioned a new emergency/operational load management program.  This measure will serve as an additional tool to meet reliability requirements by using identified member-consumers’ loads available for interruption during operational events and energy emergencies.  As power supplies become increasingly in short supply across the West, such programs can help ensure electric system reliability.

Updated: June 23, 2008