Cut in green power premium spurs activity in program

When the cost to participate in Tri-State’s voluntary renewable energy program was cut in half at the beginning of the New Year, customers of the wholesale power supplier’s member co-ops took notice – to the point that participation in the program hit a new milestone.

Due to favorable conditions in the renewable energy credits market, Tri-State’s board authorized reducing the premium for each 100 kilowatt-hour block per month from $2.50 to $1.25 effective January 1, 2007.  Since then, several member-consumers of Tri-State’s distribution systems have made significant participation commitments in the green power program.

A new participant in the program, Mountain Village, Colo., near Telluride, began purchasing 100 percent green power as of January 1st, signing up with its local electric cooperative, San Miguel Power Association, for more than 4,000 blocks per month.  SMPA buys all its renewable energy through Tri-State, its wholesale power supplier.

Shriever Air Force Base, located outside Colorado Springs, Colo., was already purchasing 1,500 blocks per month from its local electric co-op, Mountain View Electric Association, but doubled its share to 3,000 blocks per month due to the advantageous pricing.

In time for its 2006-2007 season, Wolf Creek Ski Area of Pagosa Springs, Colo., also went 100 percent renewable last fall when it signed up for 1,460 blocks of green power per month with its local power supplier, San Luis Valley Rural Electric Cooperative.

Currently 30 of Tri-State’s 44 member distribution systems have consumers signed up to purchase electricity generated by renewable resources – for a grand total of 2,125,500 kilowatt-hours per month.  The program is entering its ninth full year of existence, having first been authorized by Tri-State’s board in 1998.