Tri-State earns prestigious health and safety recognition at Escalante Generating Station

As the owner/operator of the Escalante Generating Station, a 245-megawatt power plant in Prewitt, N.M., Tri-State has become only the eighth company in the state to earn the prestigious Zia Star Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) status from the New Mexico Environment Department’s (NMED) Occupational Health and Safety Bureau.

Chugwater schools get smart about energy efficiency

Platte County School District #1 Superintendent Stuart Nelson accepted a $7,560 check Monday night at its monthly board meeting from Wheatland Rural Electric Association and Tri-State, in recognition of Chugwater Elementary School’s recent conversion from a coal-fired heating system to energy-efficient electric thermal storage (ETS) units.

Colorado co-op-served schools receive wind turbines

A series of small wind turbines slated for installation this fall at several Tri-State member cooperative-served rural schools are expected to generate plenty of student interest in renewable energy technologies. 

Brush Unit 2 added to resource mix

On Oct. 1, Tri-State added a new generating resource to its mix of baseload, contracted federal hydropower, intermediate, peaking and renewable generation sources - Brush Unit 2, a 70-megawatt natural gas, combined-cycle unit located in eastern Colorado.

Tri-State named "Top Company" by ColoradoBiz magazine

Tri-State has been named the winner in the energy and natural resources category of ColoradoBiz Magazine’s 2009 Top Company awards program. The program, now in its 22nd consecutive year, recognizes Colorado’s top performing companies on the basis of sustained financial performance, operational excellence and community involvement.

Board of directors approves 2010 budgets

Tri-State’s board of directors has approved the power supplier’s 2010 operating and capital construction budgets, which include significant investments in electric transmission infrastructure throughout its 250,000 square-mile service territory and continuing investments in new technology development.

Tri-State participates in launch of “Together We Save” campaign

Joining nearly 700 other Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives from across the country, Tri-State and its member system co-ops are combining forces to launch a revolutionary national energy efficiency campaign designed to inspire consumers to save energy and money.

Tri-State conducts system-wide energy efficiency study

As part of its continued commitment to the wise use of energy, Tri-State has hired a firm to assess the market potential for electric energy savings in the association’s 250,000-square-mile service territory. Nextant, a Boulder-Colo.-based global energy software and consulting firm, is conducting the study.

Tri-State-backed carbon capture project proves successful

A unique Tri-State-supported Wisconsin R&D pilot project aimed at demonstrating the viability of capturing 90 percent of the carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted from a coal-based power plant utilizing a chilled ammonia process has proved successful after more than one year of testing.

Tri-State and Duke Energy team up on new 51-megawatt wind power project

In keeping with its efforts to diversify its resource portfolio to meets its member co-ops’ power requirements, Tri-State has signed a 20-year agreement with a subsidiary of Duke Energy Corp. to purchase the output of a new 51-megawatt wind farm to be built in east-central Colorado.

Tri-State to participate in SunZia Transmission Project

Tri-State has joined as a participant in the SunZia Southwest Transmission Project.  The proposed project would be comprised of up to two 460-mile, 500-kilovolt lines extending from east-central New Mexico to east-central Arizona and designed to move 3,000-plus megawatts of electricity across the Southwest.

Tri-State develops GHG management roadmap
As part of its ongoing, comprehensive operational risk identification and analysis strategy, Tri-State has developed a Greenhouse Gas Management Roadmap. The document was reviewed with the association’s board of directors at its June meeting and was submitted to the Colorado Governor’s Energy Office on June 5.

Highline Electric launches renewable energy project
Representatives from Highline Electric Association, Tri-State, Ormat Technologies and Kinder Morgan Pipeline were in Peetz, Colo., June 24 to dedicate Highline’s first renewable energy project that captures heat generated from gas turbines to produce electricity.

Co-op provides green power for Mesa Verde National Park's new visitor center

For the park’s additional energy requirements, the local electric cooperatives Empire Electric Association is selling nearly 1,000 blocks of green power for the new cultural center and two existing facilities.

Deming public schools get smart about energy efficiency
Several community leaders including N.M. Sen. John Arthur Smith and Rep. Dona Irwin toured Ruben S. Torres Elementary School today, getting a firsthand look at the school’s geothermal heating and cooling system.

Tri-State to reevaluate long-term resource planning
Tri-State’s board has announced that the G&T is reevaluating its long-term resource plans to clearly identify the appropriate resources required to continue to affordably and reliably meet the future energy needs of its 44 member distribution cooperatives.

Tri-State and First Solar sign major development agreement
Tri-State and Tempe, Ariz.-based First Solar announced they have entered into an agreement to develop a 30-megawatt (AC), 500,000-panel solar photovoltaic power plant in northeastern New Mexico. The "Cimarron I Solar Project" is the largest photovoltaic project by an electric cooperative and among the largest facility of its kind in the world

Empire Electric and Tri-State help take energy hogs to slaughter

For the third time, Empire Electric Association has helped its member-owners safely replace and recycle old, energy-guzzling household refrigerators and freezers with new energy efficient models.

Tri-State paid 2008 property taxes of $23.3 million in multiple states

Property taxes for 2008 amounting to $23.3 million were paid by Tri-State in Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, Nebraska and Arizona, where the Denver-based wholesale power supplier owns and operates various electric generation and transmission facilities.

Tri-State partnering with ENERGY STAR; adding appliances and new electric technologies to its energy efficiency program

Tri-State’s board of directors recently approved significant additions to the power supplier’s long-standing Energy Efficiency Credits program to further promote energy innovation and the wise use of electricity.

Tri-State takes the LE(a)D in energy efficient lighting

Tri-State recently put its long-standing commitment to energy efficiency in action when it installed cutting-edge LED lighting technology in the parking lot of its headquarters facility in the north Denver suburb of Westminster.

Tri-State officers and directors elected following 2009 annual meeting

The board of directors of Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association was seated for the upcoming year following the company's 2009 Annual Meeting and membership session held April 8-9 at its headquarters complex in Westminster, Colo.

Tri-State to host solar augmentation study at N.M. coal-based power plant
With a goal of increasing power plant efficiency while incorporating renewable technologies, Tri-State has entered into an agreement with the Electric Power Research Institute to host a case study that is aimed at helping electric utilities add solar energy to fossil-fueled generating stations.

Tri-State, Environment Colorado collaborate on energy efficiency study

Tri-State and Environment Colorado have signed an agreement to work cooperatively on a system-wide energy efficiency study – a collaboration that marks a new step in the relationship between the organizations.

Tri-State rolls out member local renewable program

In an effort to encourage the development of local and community-based renewable energy projects across its service territory, Tri-State adjusted its Member Local Renewable Project Program at the December 2008 board meeting.

Tri-State and Xcel Energy to collaborate on southern Colorado transmission development

Tri-State and Xcel Energy will jointly pursue transmission projects in southern Colorado under a Memorandum of Understanding recently signed between the two utilities. The projects identified in the agreement would strengthen southern Colorado’s power delivery infrastructure, serve growing electricity needs and provide for the interconnection of new energy resources.

Tri-State and partner utilities seek proposals for solar power

New Mexico’s four largest electricity providers have jointly issued a request for proposals (RFP) from solar developers for the construction of a solar parabolic trough generation facility to provide solar electricity to each of the utilities by 2012. The RFP follows a feasibility study commissioned by the utilities last year.

Tri-State's Nucla Station recognized for environmental leadership

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) has awarded Tri-State as a Bronze Achiever under the Colorado Environmental Leadership program (ELP) for making significant achievements in operating its 100-megawatt Nucla Station in compliance with all air, land and water regulations.

Tri-State provides update to Colorado PUC

Members of Tri-State’s senior staff updated the Colorado Public Utilities Commission regarding cooperative issues and the association’s ongoing resource planning initiatives. Tri-State’s last update before the commission was in 2006.

Tri-State incentivizes local renewable energy development, enhances efficiency and load management programs

Tri-State’s board of directors has authorized an aggressive, first-of-its-kind in the nation program to make available renewable performance payments to its members to support a variety of community-based renewable energy projects.

Tri-State joins as a founding reporter of The Climate Registry

As part of an Earth Day celebration on April 22, Colorado Governor Bill Ritter recognized Tri-State and 12 other Colorado organizations as being among the first to join The Climate Registry - a nonprofit partnership focused on providing accurate measurements of greenhouse gas emissions and ensuring consistency of data across industry sectors and borders.

Tri-State’s lightning protection program featured on Denver news station

A news reporter from one of Denver’s local television stations, KMGH Channel 7, was on site at Tri-State’s headquarters to learn how the association protects its telecommunications and SCADA equipment from lightning strikes.

Tri-State joins as founding member of National Renewables Cooperative Organization

Tri-State became among the first to join a national organization focused on the development and deployment of renewable energy by electric co-ops, when its board recently approved membership in the National Renewables Cooperative Organization.

Tri-State membership gathers for 56th annual meeting

Tri-State held its 56th annual meeting April 2-3 at the power supplier’s Westminster, Colo., headquarters, where attendees were formally introduced to the organization’s next executive vice president and general manager, Ken Anderson. They also discussed how to find solutions to numerous issues and challenges facing the electric utility industry that include increased regulatory and legislative requirements, environmental concerns, rising costs and market volatility.

New General Manager to take helm at Tri-State G&T

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association’s board of directors has selected Ken Anderson to succeed retiring executive vice president and general manager J.M. Shafer, who is expected to step down officially on July 1, 2008.

Tri-State issues request for renewable energy, reduces voluntary program costs

In a continuing effort to enhance its balanced generation resource portfolio, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association today announced it has issued a request for proposals for renewable energy supply.  In addition, at the beginning of the New Year, the cost associated with the G&T’s 10-year-old voluntary green power program was reduced.