Resource Planning
A balanced approach for the future

Tri-State's resource planning includes a comprehensive set of supply-side and demand-side programs to help meet the current and future energy requirements of the association's 44 member cooperatives with a reliable, cost-efficient supply of power.

Tri-State is pursuing a variety of supply-side resources in the near-term, including natural gas and renewable energy projects.  And, to ensure that the association can continue to reliably serve its member systems, new transmission projects will carry needed energy throughout the West.

With its member cooperatives, Tri-State promotes programs that help consumers better manage their energy use and help achieve a balanced approach to energy needs.

In its near-term resource planning, Tri-State will continue to expand its energy efficiency programs, make investments in renewable energy and increase natural gas capacity to meet member system growth and diversify its resource portfolio. These efforts include:

• Developing a 30-megawatt, 500,000-panel solar photovoltaic power plant in northeastern New Mexico. Construction is scheduled to be complete by December 2010. Tri-State expects to announce additional renewable energy projects later this year.
• Incentivizing the development of local, community-based renewable energy projects, with the first project scheduled to come online this spring in northeastern Colorado.
• Adding 220 megawatts of natural gas-based capacity in eastern Colorado to meet members’ near-term power requirements and assist in the integration of renewable energy.
• Enhancing energy efficiency programs, including the addition of consumer incentives for purchasing certain ENERGY STAR-rated appliances and increased funding for new technology pilot projects.
• Investing in efficiency improvements across Tri-State’s generation and transmission facilities, with over $30 million budgeted in 2009 for efficiency gains at the association’s power plants and reduction of system losses in transmission infrastructure.
• Commissioning a study of additional energy efficiency and demand response programs to be completed this year that could provide additional energy savings.

Tri-State will evaluate energy efficiency, renewable energy, natural gas, clean coal and nuclear technology as part of its long-term planning process. Tri-State’s power plant site in southeast Colorado for long-term development could support a wide range of options, including natural gas, clean coal and nuclear technologies.

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