Great River Energy files resource plan, announces need for additional capacity
Elk River, MN (July 14, 2003) - Last week Great River Energy filed its Integrated Resource Plan with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. The plan analyzes the future electricity needs of Great River Energy’s 28 member cooperatives serving approximately 1.5 million customers in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The document outlines what resources are currently available to Great River Energy and how the company will consider new resources for the future.
The plan identifies the need to add approximately 1,500 MW of capacity over the forecast period to satisfy an increase in member demand for electricity. Even with the recent addition of nearly 1,000 MW of peaking capacity, Great River Energy expects to need further resources in approximately three to four years in addition to later in the planning horizon.
"Because Great River Energy’s members serve many fast growing communities, GRE is predicting high growth over the planning period" says Rick Lancaster, vice president, corporate services. "Consistent with our corporate vision, mission, and values, we are committed to adding new resources to meet this growth in an economically efficient and environmentally sound manner." For these new resources, a variety of options will be considered including gas-fired peaking or intermediate capacity, coal-fired baseload capacity, power purchase contracts and renewable energy sources such as wind energy.
Great River Energy will also continue its successful demand-side management (DSM) programs. GRE will reduce its summer peak demand by an additional 140 MW through increasing participation in new and existing conservation and load management projects. Great River Energy’s current DSM programs have an impact equal to a 324 MW power plant.
In addition, Great River Energy is expanding its portfolio of renewable resources and is in the final stages of evaluating proposals for up to 100 MW of wind energy.
The complete text for Great River Energy's Integrated Resource Plan can be found on www.GreatRiverEnergy.com.
Headquartered in Elk River, Minn., Great River Energy is a not-for-profit generation and transmission electric cooperative providing wholesale electric energy and related services to 28 distribution cooperatives in Minnesota serving 1.5 million people. Great River Energy is the second largest utility in Minnesota, in terms of generating capacity, and the fifth largest utility of its type in the United States.
