The rate for electricity from renewable resources dropped for members of the Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association this summer. In May, the electric co-op board of directors approved a reduction in the rate from 50¢ per 100 kilowatt-hour block to 9¢ effective June 1.
“We are passing through to our members a reduction in cost from our wholesale power supplier, Tri-State G&T,” noted Board President Jack Schneider. “It is our expectation that this rate can remain in effect for the rest of 2010.”
The PVREA Green Power Program has been providing a renewable option for consumers since 1999. In May 2010, consumers purchased 10,771 blocks of Green Power totaling more than a million kilowatt-hours. The average household uses approximately 1,000 kilowatt-hours per month so, with the price reduction, most consumers can support Green Power for less than one dollar a month.
The cost of power from renewable sources is purchased on the open market in the form of renewable energy credits and the price has dropped in recent months for most sources, particularly wind. “Our renewable energy programs were created to benefit both the environment and our consumers. As a not-for-profit cooperative our focus is on the welfare of our member-owners and keeping rates affordable,” Schneider said.
Tri-State is currently partnering with a subsidiary of Duke Energy Corp. to develop a new 51-megawatt wind farm currently under construction in Colorado. The Kit Carson Windpower Project is named for the county in which it is sited northwest of Burlington. Tri-State is also working with First Solar and Southern Company to develop a 30-megawatt solar farm in northeastern New Mexico that will incorporate 500,000 solar panels. The Cimarron I Solar Project will be the largest solar PV project by an electric cooperative and one of the largest facilities of its kind in the nation supplying enough electricity for 9,000 homes. Estimated completion date for both projects is December 2010.