More Clean Energy Coming
CPS builds green portfolio
One of the greenest public utilities in the nation is burnishing its clean energy credentials even more, with the addition of more wind energy in its portfolio.
CPS Energy is already the nation’s largest municipal buyer of wind energy, and it is now adding 200 megawatts of wind.
The 200-megawatt Los Vientos I windpower project will be built and owned by Duke Energy Renewables, and be located 120 miles south of Corpus Christi.
“We are getting this power at a very attractive price so it will benefit our customers in terms of a continuum of affordable rates along with the delivery of more clean, non-emitting energy,” said Cris Eugster, chief sustainability officer for CPS Energy. “This contract also helps CPS Energy continue to protect our customers from exposure to environmental regulation risk.”
The project will result in CPS Energy receiving 1,059 megawatts of Texas wind energy, with more than half of that generation coming from four coastal and South Texas wind farms.
Los Vientos I is expected to begin commercial operation in December 2012. CPS Energy will purchase all of the output.
The wind development is the second collaboration between CPS and Duke. The utility already buys all of the electricity generated at Duke Energy Renewables’ 14-megawatt Blue Wing Solar Project in San Antonio, with another 30 megawatts to be added.
This wind announcement comes on the heels of CPS massively increasing a public solicitation of solar power. CPS had issued a request for proposals in the spring to develop 50 megawatts. But the falling cost of solar panels caused the public utility to reevaluate the solicitation.
CPS wants up to 400 megawatts of solar and increased its solicitation. It is now evaluating the response and is expected to sign power purchase contracts soon.
What’s driving this bus, when natural gas prices have put a crimp in some development and has caused a slowdown in some projects?
CPS Energy spokesman Victor Robledo said. “It shows that the cost of solar is coming down. We have to do what’s right for our ratepayers and for the environment.”
The U.S Department of Energy has noticed. It recently recognized CPS Energy as a co-winner of the 2011 Public Power Wind Award. CPS Energy’s has its Vision 2020 plan to serve Greater San Antonio with a total of 1,500 megawatts renewables by 2020.
“Our 2010 Utility Solar Rankings report found that the 10 U.S. utilities with the most solar activity added 561 MW of new solar capacity last year. This CPS Energy project would produce the equivalent of more than 71 percent of that new capacity on its own,” said Julia Hamm, president of the Solar Electric Power Association.
The utility also has announced plans to mothball a coal plant in 2018, years before its expected lifespan.
That’s more than a vision. That’s a large financial commitment.
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