Energy Projects
With project-based flexibility on a partial or full-requirements basis, public power members and affiliates can meet their utility portfolio requirements in several ways; self-supply from local resources, independent third-party purchases, or CMPAS-sponsored individual or group projects. For most of our utilities, these CMPAS-sponsored projects typically serve as the cornerstone and as the largest component of their power supply and transmission portfolio.
With project-based flexibility on a partial or full-requirements basis, public power members and affiliates can meet their utility portfolio requirements in several ways; self-supply from local resources, independent third-party purchases, or CMPAS-sponsored individual or group projects. For most of our utilities, these CMPAS-sponsored projects typically serve as the cornerstone and as the largest component of their power supply and transmission portfolio.
Current Projects
CMPAS-sponsored eleven public power utilities in Minnesota and four in Iowa in a precedent-setting project that allows public power to make transmission investments on the same basis as investor-owned utilities.
As a participant in the CAPX Brookings transmission project, CMPAS and its participants altogether own 3.9 percent of the 250-mile line along with Xcel Energy, Great River Energy, Ottertail Power Corporation and Missouri River Energy Services. This 345 kv line goes from Brookings County, ND to Hampton, MN.
CMPAS invested in the CAPX Brookings transmission line as a strategy to hedge future MISO Transmission usage rate increases. Over the 40-year life of the CAPX Brookings project, CMPAS participants are projected to earn a return of $17.8 million dollars in excess of expenses in the form of distributions and savings from their $32 million investment.
Developed and operated by Omaha Public Power District (OPPD), the Nebraska City 2 plant provides reliable, baseload power. When the baseload facility went into service in 2009, CMPAS-sponsored for 10 members an at-cost power purchase agreement for capacity and energy for the life of the plant (30 years).
In 2012, CMPAS entered into a 20-year purchase power agreement for reliable, low-cost, baseload nuclear power with Wisconsin Public Power Inc. (WPPI), a joint power agency. Through its partnership with WPPI, CMPAS will receive 16 MW of capacity and energy sourced from the Point Beach Nuclear Energy Center, owned and operated by NextEra Energy Resources in eastern Wisconsin.
For 9 CMPAS participants, the purchase fulfills need for energy and capacity and could mitigate natural gas price spikes or potential government-imposed carbon costs.
From a wind farm in Pierce County, North Dakota, CMPAS signed two different wind contracts with for a total of 13.1 MW. One contract equals 4.5 MW and a second contract for 8.6 MW. Seven members participate in 15-year contracts that started in 2011.
The Wolf Wind project represents the only CMPAS-sponsored project that all 12 members participate. In 2005, CMPAS arranged for a 15-year wind contract of 6.25 MW located in Nobles County MN, owned by Wolf LLC.
As part of our commitment to helping utilities, homeowners, and business owners make ‘smart energy choices’, our customer services division – CMPCS – developed a community solar project for our members to offer to community residents. Residents in the 6 communities participating in R4 Solar can purchase subscriptions to a local community solar billboard to offset some or all of their energy needs with solar energy.
Beyond self-supplied or CMPAS-sponsored projects, members can request that CMPAS procure short to mid-term supplemental energy purchases to meet the remaining balance of their portfolio needs. Often, these purchases serve as “bridge” purchases until a better long-term project can be secured.
CMPAS currently has the following short-term supplemental energy contracts:
- 2016-20 On-peak, 5 x 16 fixed-price energy only purchase from NextEra Energy