Platte River provides
renewable energy to its four member communities where it is distributed
to homes and businesses. Our renewable energy
comes primarily from wind generation, although we continually watch for
other cost-competitive renewable sources of energy.
Platte River also
meets its member utilities' growing renewable energy needs by purchasing Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) from other wind and renewable generation in the region. By purchasing
RECs, Platte River is supporting development of renewable energy at the
most cost-effective sites in the region, without incurring added
costs
of transmitting the energy to our system. The revenue the generator
gets from the REC sale enables them to sell their high-cost renewable
energy
at a rate that is competitive with fossil-fuel-powered generation in
their area. At the same time, the generator agrees to yield all claims
to the renewable attributes of their generation (e.g., emission reductions)
to Platte River.
Continued acceptance
of renewable energy by Platte River's owner communities depends in
large part on customer confidence in its product.
For that reason, Platte River sought and obtained Green-e® certification
from the Center for Resource Solutions. The Center for Resource Solutions
is a national nonprofit organization that designs and operates programs
supporting the increased supply and use of renewable energy resources.
Green-e® is the nation'’s leading independent renewable energy
certification
and verification program. Green-e® certification assures consumers
that the renewable energy they may purchase meets stringent environmental
and consumer protection standards. Furthermore, it assures that the organizations
supplying this certified energy can demonstrate, on an annual basis,
that they have generated or purchased enough renewable energy to meet
customer demand and to substantiate their related marketing claims.
Platte River delivers wind
energy to Estes Park Light & Power, Fort
Collins Utilities, Longmont Power & Communications and Loveland Water
and Power for their individual wind power programs.
