La Plata Electric Association announces Green Power price reduction
La Plata Electric Association announces Green Power price reduction
Rate for optional renewable energy purchase to be $0.10 per 100 kWh block
La Plata Electric Association’s Board of Directors has granted preliminarily approval for a price reduction for power supplied from renewable resources, or “Green Power.” If met with final board approval following the 30-day legal notice of rate tariff change, LPEA’s member-customers can opt to pay a premium of $0.10 per 100 kilowatt hour (kWh) block for Green Power. This is down from $0.40 per 100 kWh block.
“The ability to reduce the price is tremendous news,” said Greg Munro, LPEA CEO. “Our power supplier, Tri-State Generation and Transmission, has been able to reduce the actual hard cost that we, LPEA, must pay for Green Power, so our board has decided to pass that on to our members.”
The LPEA Green Power program was initiated in 1998 when Tri-State responded to requests by its member rural electric cooperatives, to include a Green Power option as part of its available resources to end-use consumers. The premium has decreased from the initial $2.50 per 100 kWh block, to $1.25 in 2006, $0.80 in 2008 and $0.40 on Jan. 1, 2010. To date, LPEA is among the leading purchasers of “voluntary” Green Power in Tri-State’s 44-member cooperative system, supporting nearly 2 million kilowatt hours of Green Power generation each month.
The steady reduction in the cost of renewable energy can, in general, be attributed to supply and demand, with large and small projects coming on line across the country and adding to the availability of Green Power. Tri-State also continues to explore options for renewable energy within its own portfolio of electricity generation, and while traditionally it has purchased “wind” power from the Dakotas and Wyoming, and some small hydro, to meet the demand, it will add a new solar farm in 2011.
In addition to Tri-State’s efforts, Southwest Colorado is also seeing a growth in “distributed generation,” which is power produced from individual, smaller sources (away from a central generating entity such as Tri-State). Within LPEA’s service territory, 180 solar photovoltaic systems are now net metered (tied to LPEA’s electrical system) and options are being explored for a 4 megawatt bio-mass project in Archuleta County, multi-megawatt solar farms, including one in Durango, plus some micro-hydro projects. As desired, members can designate funds each month to support local renewable projects through LPEA.
“When our members designate Green Power funds to local generation, we are able to help these local renewable installations become more financially feasible,” said Mark Schwantes, manager of corporate services. “Local projects that LPEA supports range from offering rebates to those installing renewable generation – such as solar panels – to installation of functional educational renewable equipment at our area schools and other community efforts. Our members have asked that our region endeavor to produce more of our own power, and help reduce our reliance on the grid. We can never become totally self-reliant, given the demand for electricity in our region, but every little bit helps.”
Businesses promoting themselves as “100% green-powered” and buildings maintaining LEED certification must opt to purchase the renewable energy supplied by Tri-State, as the local generation option does not qualify. These entities can, however, choose to pay an additional premium to help fund the local projects as desired.
Because LPEA’s Green Power purchase program is voluntary, LPEA members must specifically request to join. To sign up, visitwww.lpea.coop/green_power on the web, or in person at an LPEA office either in Durango (45 Stewart Street) or Pagosa Springs (603 S. 8th St.), or call 970.247.5786. The rate will be effective in the July billing cycle.
LPEA, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative, provides to its more than 30,000 members with in excess of 43,000 meters, safe, reliable electricity at the lowest reasonable cost, while being environmentally responsible. For additional information, contact LPEA at 970.247.5786 or visit www.lpea.coop.
