WPPI on-track to fulfill renewable requirement six years early

SUN PRAIRIE, WIS., March 26 –  Wisconsin Public Power Inc. expects to be six years ahead of schedule in meeting the state of Wisconsin requirement that at least 10 percent of electricity purchased by retail customers in the state be supplied from renewable sources by 2015. Based on its current renewable energy portfolio expansion plans, the Sun Prairie, Wis.-based utility anticipates that it will exceed the 10-percent requirement in 2009.

            “WPPI and its members have directed considerable funding and effort toward meeting and exceeding Wisconsin’s renewable energy requirement,” said Roy Thilly, president and CEO. “We are committed to providing a diverse, cost-effective and reliable power supply – one that includes clean, renewable energy and substantially increased conservation and efficiency programs – to our members and their customers.”

The Sun Prairie, Wis.-based utility expects to meet the 2015 requirement ahead of schedule as a result of the planned addition of more than 150 megawatts (MW) of capacity from a number of renewable resources:

Community-Based Wind Projects

WPPI is working with member electric utilities and local officials to install as much as 24 MW of wind power from 16 turbines in several member communities. By placing utility-sized wind turbine generators in a number of member communities, WPPI will create a large distributed renewable energy project. This initiative will produce visible, local renewable energy projects for WPPI and its members at a lower cost than each member seeking to develop such projects individually.

Electric energy produced by the community-based wind turbine installations will supply enough power for approximately 6,400 homes annually.  

To date, potential project sites have been identified in the Wisconsin communities of Kaukauna, New Holstein, and Westby. WPPI is developing these projects cooperatively with local elected officials, community leaders, site landowners and site neighbors. Reactions have been very positive to community-based wind presentations, open houses and wind farm tours in these WPPI member communities. Sites in several other communities are being investigated.

Butler Ridge Power Purchase Agreement

In a 20-year agreement approved this month, WPPI will purchase the entire output of a wind project to be constructed in the town of Herman in Dodge County, Wis. Known as Butler Ridge, this 54-MW project would supply enough capacity to power 15,000 homes. The project is scheduled to be in service in 2008.

Outagamie County Landfill-Gas-to-Energy Project

Under an agreement reached in August, WPPI will purchase 4.8 MW of electric power generated from methane gas produced at a landfill in Outagamie County, Wis. The power will be delivered to the electric distribution system of Kaukauna Utilities, a member of WPPI. To date, two of the project’s three generators are operational; the third is expected to come online this spring.

Forward Energy Center  

WPPI expects to purchase 25 MW of renewable energy — enough to power the annual needs of more than 6,500 homes — from the Forward Energy Center wind project near Brownsville, Wis., just east of WPPI member community Waupun. While the project has faced delays due to permitting concerns, WPPI is optimistic that the project will move forward.

Top of Iowa II

A 20-year purchased power agreement with a subsidiary of Midwest Renewable Energy will add to WPPI’s portfolio 50 MW of renewable energy generated at a wind facility near Kensett, Iowa. The facility is expected to supply WPPI with enough electricity to power the annual needs of approximately 16,000 homes and is expected to begin commercial operation in December 2007.

“We are pleased to add these renewable resources to WPPI’s diverse power supply portfolio,” said WPPI Senior Vice President – Power Supply Peter Steitz. “Not only will the additions substantially increase the amount of renewable energy in our resource mix, they will also help to stabilize future power costs for our member utilities.”

            The community-based wind, Butler Ridge, Outagamie County Landfill, Forward Energy Center and Top of Iowa projects represent the latest additions to WPPI’s renewable energy portfolio, which also includes allocation of renewable energy through purchases from other utilities and the output from a refurbished, 7-MW low-impact hydroelectric plant near Black River Falls, Wis. WPPI also owns two wind turbines near Worthington, Minn., with a combined generating capacity of 1.8 MW.

            Currently, more than 3,000 customers of WPPI member utilities voluntarily purchase electricity generated from renewable resources. In 2006, WPPI reported 230,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of sales from renewable resources, 25,000 MWh more than currently required through Wisconsin’s renewable portfolio standard.

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WPPI is a regional power company serving 48 customer-owned electric utilities. Through WPPI, these public power utilities share resources and own generation facilities to provide reliable, affordable electricity to 185,000 homes and businesses in Wisconsin, Upper Michigan and Iowa.