Dive Brief:
- PacifiCorp has issued a request for proposals, seeking up to 1,270 MW of wind resources capable of delivering power into the utility's Wyoming system.
- Projects can be located in Wyoming, Oregon or Utah. Bids are due at different times next month, depending on where projects are located. Plans also call for development of a new 140-mile, 500-kV transmission line projected to be completed by the end of 2020.
- The company said it will consider projects bid with power purchase agreements for up to 30 years, or "Build-Transfer" agreements where the bidder develops the project but ultimately transfers the project to PacifiCorp.
Dive Insight:
PacifiCorp this week issued a renewables RFP, setting out a roughly six months-long process that will result in more than 1.2 GW of clean energy being added to its system.
Bids for Wyoming wind projects are due Oct. 17, while projects proposed for Oregon or Utah must be submitted by Oct. 24. PacifCorp plans to execute agreements with the selected projects in mid April of 2018. The minimum project size is 10 MW. There is no maximum size limit though the company said "the project must not compromise system reliability." Only wind resources are being considered.
Proposals for new or repowered wind resources must demonstrate that projects will qualify for the federal production tax credit, if applicable, and can be online by Dec. 31, 2020.
PacifiCorp's 2017 integrated resource plan included clean energy in three tranches: transmission access for wind energy, near-term wind capacity construction, and longer-term solar and wind plans. The proposal also included tighter environmental restrictions on its coal facilities.
Between 2028 and 2036, PacifiCorp plans to add another 859 MW of new wind capacity, with 85 MW in Wyoming and 774 MW in Idaho. Also within that time frame, the company will propose more than 1,000 MW of new solar capacity.
