FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- Platte River Power Authority's Board of Directors has approved a plan to expand the utility's renewable energy sources over the next three years.
The plan calls for acquiring new renewable energy from sources such as wind, geothermal, biomass, small hydropower and solar in an amount that is more than twice the 18.6 million kilowatt-hours that was produced by Platte River's Medicine Bow Wind Project in 2006.
"We're currently looking at expanding our renewable energy supply and are considering several potential new wind and small hydro projects in southeast Wyoming and northeast Colorado," said John Bleem, division manager, customer and environmental services at Platte River.
"The increase is a response to our customers' continued demand for renewable energy," said Doug Hutchinson, Fort Collins’ Mayor and Platte River Board member. “It’s consistent with one of Platte River's environmental principles that directs the utility to consider environmentally progressive and renewable technologies to meet its future generation needs."
Approximately 20 percent of Platte River's current electricity supply comes from renewable wind power and hydropower.