PacifiCorp has released a draft of its long-term energy plan that continues investments in new wind generation and transmission, while adding significant new solar and storage resources.
The plan, which is the result of a comprehensive data analysis and stakeholder input process, demonstrates the company’s adoption of additional lower-cost renewable resources to meet customer needs and support for its phased coal transition.
“With a focus on lower-cost renewable resources and strategic transmission investments, this plan allows us to continue to deliver the reliable and low-cost energy our customers need as we embark on a phased and well-managed coal transition that minimizes impacts to our thermal operations workforce and communities,” said Rick Link, vice president of resource planning and acquisitions at PacifiCorp.
The draft “preferred portfolio” for the 2019 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) indicates how the company envisions meeting customer energy needs most cost-effectively over the next 20 years.
The draft 2019 resource plan includes the following additional renewable energy resources:
Wind generation
- More than 3,500 megawatts of new wind generation by 2025, including resources acquired through customer partnerships, and a total of more than 4,600 megawatts of new wind generation by 2038, including:
Solar and storage
- Nearly 3,000 megawatts of new solar by 2025, including resources acquired through customer partnerships, and more than 6,300 megawatts of new solar by 2038
- Nearly 600 megawatts of battery storage by 2025 and more than 2,800 megawatts of battery storage by 2038
The 2019 draft resource plan also identifies battery storage as part of a least-cost portfolio for the first time. The plan adds nearly 1,400 megawatts of stand-alone storage resources starting in 2028.
In addition, to facilitate the delivery of new renewable energy resources to PacifiCorp customers across the West, the plan calls for the construction of a 400-mile transmission line known as Gateway South connecting southeastern Wyoming and northern Utah. The new transmission line will be in addition to the 140-mile Gateway West transmission segment in Wyoming currently under construction.
PacifiCorp will file its final 2019 IRP with state regulatory commissions by Oct. 18.
To read the full IRP, click here.
