Colorado Springs Utilities recently announced the addition of wind power to its portfolio.
The announcement came days after it announced its plan to reduce carbon emissions by 80% and close its coal power plants by 2030.
Colorado Springs Utilities entered a Wind Power and Renewable Energy Credit Purchase Agreement with Black Hills Colorado Electric, LLC for the wind energy.
For the next five years, the utility will receive 60 megawatts from two wind farms in northeast Colorado.
Combined with the utility’s 114 MW of solar power, approximately 20% of the utility’s electric generation comes from renewable resources.
An important value of the utility’s long-term agreements to purchase both wind and solar energy is the fixed price of the energy, the utility noted. “Long-term, fixed-price agreements help guard utility customers against volatile fuel prices in the future.”
The renewable energy is produced at Spring Canyon II and III Wind Energy Centers located outside of Peetz, Colo., and have been in operation since 2014.
