Large and small clean energy providers are being asked to submit to Platte River Power Authority ideas to generate up to 250 megawatts of new photovoltaic solar generating capacity that could produce non-carbon energy for the utility by 2025.
“We are really interested in seeing what kind of proposals we get back,” said Platte River Power Authority spokesperson Steve Roalstad.
The community-owned public power utility delivers energy services to four communities including Longmont. The utility has said it wants to pursue a 100% non carbon energy mix by 2030, provided the organization’s core pillars are upheld.
To help reach that goal, Platte River this week issued a request for proposals (or RFP) for an additional 250 megawatts of solar generating capacity. With a new clean power boost, Platte River estimates its overall energy production will be about 54% non-carbon, according to a Platte River news release.
The RFP calls for the largest amount of new, non-carbon generating capacity to date and encourages any proposed project to include a battery energy storage component, a Platte River news release states. The request also calls for bidders to propose installations that could be interconnected anywhere on Platte River’s transmission system including the distribution systems in the owner communities of Estes Park, Fort Collins, Longmont and Loveland, the release states.
Platte River could use a single 250 megawatt project or a number of individual projects from 25 to 100 megawatts, Roalstad said. “We are really doing this in terms of what the possibilities are to find the best single or multiple projects for the customers,” he said.
“A 25 megawatt project is something that would tap into a distribution system within a specific community,” he said. “It can mean anything from rooftop solar to home batteries to electric vehicles.”
“A 25 megawatt project within a specific community would be a unique project for us,” Roalstad added.
Proposals are due Feb. 18, 2022, after which Platte River will develop a short list of potential projects that add up to about 250 megawatts and sign power purchase agreements later in the year, the news release states..
