Renewable Energy
Strong Solar Showing for Co-ops
A new report on solar energy in the United States ranks a Colorado co-op at number six on the list of utilities with the most solar megawatts added in 2010. Not only is Tri-State G&T the highest ranked electric co-op on the list, it is also the only utility in the top 10 that is not investor-owned.
New Mexico’s Cimarron Solar Facility helped Tri-State G&T become the highest ranked co-op for annual solar megawatts. (Photo By: Tri-State G&T)
The list was compiled by the Solar Electric Power Association. Westminster, Colo.-based Tri-State earned its place of honor by integrating 30 megawatts of solar from the Cimarron Solar Facility in New Mexico. The G&T has a 25-year deal to purchase the plant’s entire output.
“The plant came fully on line last Thanksgiving,” said Jim Van Someren, Tri-State’s communications manager, adding that the process took place 10 MW at a time. He noted that the plant “primarily helps meet renewable energy standards in New Mexico for our member co-ops,” though members in the three other states the G&T serves also benefit.
SEPA’s top 10 features some of the biggest names in the IOU world, including Pacific Gas & Electric, which was number one. “It’s an honor for us to represent co-ops in this category, among some of the nation’s largest utilities,” Van Someren said.
While Tri-State certainly earned bragging rights, other co-ops also turned in impressive results.
“In 2010 cooperative utilities increased their total annual solar capacities by nearly 690 percent in aggregate,” SEPA said in its report. The top 10 list of co-ops with solar megawatts last year features seven newcomers. SEPA called this “an indicator that cooperative solar interest is on the rise.”
Kaua’i Island Utility Cooperative, headquartered in Lihu’e, Hawaii, came in second with 0.79 MW of new solar capacity. It was followed by North Georgia EMC, Dalton, in third place with 0.68 MW.
Rounding out the co-op top 10: Kit Carson Electric Cooperative, Taos, N.M., 0.62 MW; Trico Electric Cooperative, Marana, Ariz., 0.56 MW; Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative, Willcox, Ariz., 0.45 MW; Holy Cross Energy, Glenwood Springs, Colo., 0.42 MW; Choptank Electric Cooperative, Denton, Md., 0.35 MW; Middle Tennessee EMC, Murfreesboro, 0.29 MW; and Tri-State EMC, Blue Ridge, Ga., 0.21 MW.
Tags: Renewable Energy, Solar Energy, Solar Power