BPA asks the region, what kind of green power can you generate? 

Portland, Ore. -  To help meet increasing demand for energy through renewable resources, the Bonneville Power Administration is issuing a Request for Information to get more information about the potential types, amounts and price range of new renewable generation available in the Pacific Northwest.

BPA will use the information to plan for future renewable power acquisitions, better understand the types of renewable technologies and determine the projected cost impacts if these resources are included in BPA rates.  BPA will also share the information with the agency's utility customers as they work to achieve state renewable portfolio standards.   

"The Federal Columbia River Power System has, for generations, provided low-cost, reliable and emission-free power for the Pacific Northwest," says Paul Norman, senior vice president of Power Services. "But those resources are getting stretched thin.  BPA's Request for Information will help position us to tap more renewable, greenhouse gas-free resources to help meet load growth." 

This effort also supports the new presidential administration's goals to reduce greenhouse gasses, support the economy and jobs and help ensure energy independence.

"BPA has worked with the region to develop more than 1,000 megawatts of energy efficiency, and this resource remains the first choice for meeting load growth," adds Norman.  "But new sources of generation will also be needed." 

BPA encourages independent power producers, qualifying cogeneration facilities, small power production facilities, electric utilities and any other entity to respond to the RFI by sending their submissions to bpa.renewable.rfi@bpa.gov by Feb. 27, 2009.  Questions can also be sent to this e-mail address.  The RFI document and more information are located here: http://www.bpa.gov/resourcerfi.

Existing resources as well as those in the final stages of development can be included.  BPA invites general comments or information in addition to the specific information described in the formal request. 

Under BPA's recently signed long-term power contracts, the agency's utility customers can choose to buy from BPA to meet their load growth or develop their own new power resources.  This RFI will help BPA inform the customers about the cost of new renewables if they choose to buy that additional power from BPA. 

BPA has a history of leadership in renewable resources, and this RFI will help build on past successes.  The agency signed its first wind purchase agreement in 1997 and currently purchases approximately 247 MW (65 average megawatts) via long-term wind power contracts.  BPA also sponsors research and demonstration projects in ocean wave, in-stream tidal and solar photovoltaic technologies.   In addition to purchasing wind as a resource for its own power customers, BPA also provides transmission and integration services for wind developers to provide these resources to their customers.

BPA is a not-for-profit federal electric utility that markets more than a third of the electricity consumed in the Pacific Northwest. The power is produced at 31 federal dams and one nuclear plant in the Northwest and is sold to more than 140 Northwest utilities. The agency operates a high-voltage transmission grid comprising more than 15,000 circuit-miles of lines and associated substations in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana.

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