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Cooperatives and Renewable Energy
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Electric cooperatives across the country are actively expanding their fuel portfolios to include an array of renewable sources, including wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, manure and hydro. Take a look at some recent stats to see how co-ops are measuring up:
- Nationwide, co-ops own 554 megawatts in renewable energy generation and have purchased contracts for 1,946 MW for a combined total of 3.5 gigawatts of non-hydro renewable capacity. In addition, there are roughly 10 GW of preference power contracts with federal hydroelectric facilities.
- In 2008, co-ops received more than 11 percent of their power from renewable sources, as compared to 9 percent for the nation’s entire electric utility sector.
- In 2007, growth in both owned and purchased non-hydro renewable energy capacity grew 61 percent. In 2008, renewable capacity grew 65 percent. Nationwide, growth in renewable capacity was less than 25 percent in 2007
- Currently, 755 co-ops (nearly 90 percent) offer renewable energy options to a total of almost 15 million residential co-op members.
- Co-ops have used $141,474,107 in Clean Renewable Energy Bonds to develop 68 MW of renewable capacity.
(NOTE: some cooperatives sell the environmental attributes of the power they are generating using renewable resources.)
Contact information for individual cooperatives and statewide associations can be found by using the pull-down menu of states on the www.NRECA.coop home page.
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Holy Cross Solar Farm
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Commissioners in Eagle County, Colo. gave a thumbs up to the Clean Energy Collective to build its third community-owned solar garden, 4,160 panels on five acres of land in El Jebel, Colo. Workers are moving right along and making progress on the project. When complete, the 1-megawatt "Tree Farm Array" will serve up to 300 community members in Colorado's Roaring Fork and Vail valleys.
In a program that's the first of its kind in the nation, the Clean Energy Collective model allows customers to reap the benefits of a community-based facility without having to build a system of their own. Community-based energy eliminates many barriers by opening the doorway to ownership to everyone including property renters, non-profits, poorly-sighted properties and individuals of all incomes.
Earlier this year the CEC flipped the switch on its Garfield County Airport Solar Array, an 858-kilowatt facility in Rifle, Colo. and the largest community-owned solar array in the nation. It will produce more than 1,500 MW-hours of clean, renewable energy each year. The CEC's pilot facility, a 78-kW facility in El Jebel started producing clean power for community owners in September 2010.
Installed on a hillside bench that is shielded from view by cottonwood trees and other vegetation, the Tree Farm Array will add significantly to local utility Holy Cross Energy's portfolio. Serving communities including Aspen, Vail, Glenwood Springs, Carbondale, Basalt and Rifle, Holy Cross is a leader among Colorado's 22 distribution cooperatives in terms of installed capacity for renewable energy generation.
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Investing in Local Renewables
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A midst the red and dead beetle kill forest of Shadow Mountain Lake sits something new, shiny and “green”: a solar panel array atop James and Traycee Pinkard’s roof. It’s their investment in the sun. A safer bet, some might say, than Wall Street, but something with significant upfront investment costs.
As the panels made their way to the Pinkards’ rooftop, they learned of Mountain Parks Electric’s Green Power Program, a program that allows any MPE customer to donate funds to support the development of local renewable energy projects like theirs. The Pinkards filled out a rebate application, submitted it and crossed their fingers. Two months later, they were awarded MPE’s first local renewable energy rebate - $2,500 for their 8.5-kilowatt panels.
The Pinkards’ system is one of nearly 40 such systems throughout MPE’s service territory. MPE believes that such investment benefits the community. “Mountain Parks Electric is proud of its Green Power Program,” General Manager Joe Pandy said. “We hope the renewable energy rebates that we are now providing will spur development in the local economy. We hope this rebate is the first of many.”
To date, more than 800 of MPE’s customers – approximately 5 percent – voluntarily contribute as little as $0.50 a month on their electric bills to fund the program. Wells Fargo of Winter Park recently joined the list of contributors as a corporate sponsor by donating $500 to the program. “We strive to bring a greater connection between banking and the environment by serving as environmental leaders in all that we do,” bank manager Aneta Williams said.
The Green Power Program provides rebates of up to $2,500 for individuals and $10,000 for businesses and organizations. Applications are reviewed on a quarterly basis by a three-person volunteer board of MPE customers. The board consists of Alexander Buhayar, Liz McIntyre and Barbara Vazquez.
For more information or to access rebate applications and contribution forms, visit www.mpei.com/new-greenpower.
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