Public Power - June 2008 - (Page 27)

executive director of the California Municipal Utilities Association. “We wrote our section slightly differently, stating that the goal would apply to us, while taking rates and needs into account for our service territories,“ he said. Colorado 20 percent by 2020 for IOUs; 10 percent by 2020 for co-ops and municipal utilities serving more than 40,000 customers. In addition, the Fort Collins City Council passed an electric energy supply policy requiring Fort Collins Utilities—a municipal utility supplied with renewable energy by the Platte River Power Authority—to provide a minimum of 2 percent of electricity from renewable energy by 2004, and 15 percent by 2017. Minnesota For Xcel Energy: 15 percent by 2010; 18 percent by 2012; 25 percent by 2016; and 30 percent by 2020. Xcel Energy also has an additional separate requirement for wind (825 megawatts) and biomass (110 megawatts) generation by 2010. For all other utilities, 12 percent by 2012; 17 percent by 2016, 20 percent by 2020; and 25 percent by 2025. (“All other utilities” are defined as “public utilities providing electric service, generation and transmission cooperative electric associations, municipal power agencies, and power districts operating in the state.“) North Carolina 12.5 percent by 2021 for IOUs and 10 percent by 2018 for municipal utilities and co-ops. Oregon 25 percent by 2025 for large utilities (those with 3 percent or more of the state’s load) in incremental percentages over the years, beginning at 5 percent by 2011; 10 percent by 2025 for mid-size utilities (those with more than 1.5 percent, but less than 3 percent of the state’s load); and 5 percent by 2025 for small utilities (those with less than 1.5 percent of the state’s load). Washington 15 percent by 2020 for all utilities serving 25,000 customers or more in the state. (Of the state’s 62 utilities, 17 are covered by the program, representing about 84 percent of the state’s load.) www.APPAnet.org States where the RPS does not require participation by municipal utilities Delaware 20 percent by 2019 for all utilities. Municipal utilities and co-ops were allowed to opt out of the RPS requirements if they established voluntary green power programs and created “green energy funds.” In response to this option, all municipal and cooperative utilities in the state opted out. Iowa Iowa requires its two IOUs—MidAmerican Energy and Alliant Energy Interstate Power and Light—to own or contract for a combined total of 105 MW of renewable generating capacity and associated energy production. Despite not being required to participate in an RPS, municipal utilities in Iowa are taking steps to move in this direction. “Our members are doing a lot,” said Robert Haug, executive director of the Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities. “Many of them work with wind generation or work with power suppliers that have wind in their portfolios.” The association is also spearheading an effort for a number of its members to acquire 106.3 MW of wind capacity and has also been developing the Iowa Stored Energy Park, a compressed air energy storage facility for wind. “Some of our members are also involved in biodiesel, and some are getting involved in biomass, including switchgrass, legumes, and other native grasses,” he said. Missouri Missouri created a renewable energy and energy-efficiency “objective” for the state’s IOUs, requiring each IOU to make a “good faith effort” to generate or procure electricity generated by eligible renewable energy resources. The objective aims to have 4 percent of total electricity sales generated by eligible renewables by 2012, 8 percent by 2015, and 11 percent by 2020. Municipal utilities and cooperatives are not covered by the objective. However, the city of Columbia requires Columbia Water & Light to generate or purchase electricity produced from renewable energy resources at levels of 2 percent by 2007, 5 percent by 2012, 10 percent by 2017, and 15 percent by 2022. Other municipal utilities in the state are also taking voluntary action. “Some of our members have been very active in renewables for a while, even going back as far as 2000 with some landfill gas generation projects,” said John Grotzinger, executive director for engineering and operations for the Missouri Public Utility Alliance. MPUA’s members include the Missouri Association of Municipal Utilities, Missouri Joint Municipal Electric Utility Commission, and the Municipal Gas Commission of Missouri. There is also a large wind farm in northwest Missouri, where some municipal utilities are taking deliveries. In February 2008, Rock Port, Mo., became the first community totally powered by wind in the United States, the result of four wind turbines located on agricultural land within city limits. Nevada 20 percent by 2015, in incremental percentages over the years, beginning in 2005, for the state’s two IOUs —Nevada Power and Sierra Pacific Power. New Mexico 20 percent by 2020 for IOUs and 10 percent by 2020 for co-ops. New York 24 percent by 2013 for IOUs. New York’s RPS legislation states that “municipal utilities, the New York Power Authority, and the Long Island Power Authority do not fall under the jurisdiction of this program, but have been encouraged by the New York Public Service Commission to adopt similar programs.” Long Island Power Authority created its own commitment to renewables (the Renewable Electricity Goal), with the goal of 25 percent by 2013. Other municipal utilities in the state are also taking action. “Our members get 80 to 90 percent of their power needs from hydro power through a contract with the New York Power Authority,“ said Tony Modafferi, executive director of the JUNE 2008 27 http://www.APPAnet.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Public Power - June 2008

Public Power - June 2008 Contents Perspective 10 Questions Finding Common Ground on Climate Change Solutions A Patchwork Approach to Renewable Energy Whose Grid Is It Anyway? The Little Utility That Could Benchmarking Customer Service Can Prairie Hay Power Your Town? Storming the Control Room Investing in the Smart Grid Coming of Age: Superconducting Cables Community Broadband Economic Development Customer Service Human Resources For Governing Boards Safety Parting Shot

Public Power - June 2008

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