Electric Cooperatives Propose to Lead MSR Partnership in SW Colorado

Tuesday, May 3, 2005

Plug Into The Sun Logo

Source:  Ed Thomas
Market Development Division
InterMountain Energy
(970) 240-1279

Wholesale power provider Tri-State Generation and Transmission, and distribution cooperatives Delta-Montrose Electric Association (DMEA), LaPlata Electric Association and Empire Electric Association are proposing to leverage their “power” to expand the Million Solar Roof Initiative Partnership throughout Southwestern Colorado.  The expanded Partnership area would add the cities of Grand Junction, Durango, Telluride, Gunnison and Cortez to the existing Southwest Colorado Partnership that already includes the cities of Montrose, Delta and Paonia. The "Plug Into The Sun" logo is used by the current partnership.

In 2002, Delta-Montrose Electric Association (DMEA) with Intermountain Energy, its subsidiary, launched a Million Solar Roof Partnership that mirrors DMEA’s service territories, Montrose and Delta counties of Southwestern Colorado.  Two previous MSR grants funded the Partnership’s initial outreach as well as the exploration of the potential costs and benefits of establishing a utility-funded solar installation financing program.

In its latest MSRI grant proposal, the current Southwest Colorado Partnership proposes to launch a peer-to-peer, direct marketing campaign to recruit up to five of DMEA’s neighboring electric cooperatives (i.e. Grand Valley Power, Gunnison County Electric Association, San Miguel Power Association, LaPlata Electric Association and Empire Electric Association) and DMEA’s wholesale power provider (Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association) to help expand the Partnership.  These utilities have the potential to become focal points for recruiting additional MSR partners within the utilities’ service territories.  DMEA and Intermountain Energy will showcase past success while working to persuade the utilities to become the lead facilitator of discussions and activities that promote more solar installations in their areas, as DMEA has done.

DMEA’s Board was among the few utilities to support the Colorado Renewable Energy Standard Amendment 37 Initiative.  The passage of Colorado Amendment 37 offers a unique moment in time to leverage DMEA’s own “small, cooperatively owned utility” leadership and experience with program material from solar energy programs soon to be launched by the region’s large, investor-owned utility, Xcel Energy.  DMEA’s timely outreach effort should affirm that the senior management of smaller, locally-owned utilities in Southwestern Colorado and beyond would do better to pro-actively embrace and promote the values of Million Solar Roof Initiative now, rather than risk having to react to initiatives driven by its members later. 

DMEA is uniquely qualified to support Million Solar Roofs in this initiative because it is highly credible as a peer to other utilities, and a regional leader in renewable energy and energy efficiency programming.  In January 2005, DMEA enhanced its efforts to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy development through its wholly-owned subsidiary, InterMountain Energy.  DMEA has asked Intermountain Energy to establish a Market Development Division that focuses on developing local and regional markets for emerging energy technologies and leverages DMEA’s expertise through energy industry, government and other partnerships throughout North America. InterMountain Energy’s Market Development Division is headed by Ed Thomas, a nationally recognized energy services and market development expert. Among the efforts that InterMountain Energy’s Market Development Division will pursue in 2005:  

--Million Solar Roof Initiative – continuing local outreach for this federal program that encourages the installation of photovoltaic solar systems;

--ENERGY STAR  – advancing DMEA’s close association with this national initiative to promote energy efficiency and pollution prevention;

--GeoPowering the West – continuing local activities that align with this federal initiative to promote the potential of geothermal energy sources for economic development 

--Building Partnerships with Government Agencies-- leveraging resources that advance common objectives of the Colorado Governor’s Office of Energy Management and Conservation and other agencies 

The establishment of a Market Development Division in our subsidiary should enable DMEA to more effectively work toward the achievement of key goals outlined in our vision statement,” said Steve Metheny, DMEA’s Chief Operating Manager.  Goals outlined in DMEA’s “Vision Statement” include:

--Delivering energy bill savings of 25% to members who participate in efficiency programs.

--Leading energy cooperatives in promoting economical renewable energy projects and distributive energy technologies.

--Being the nation’s choice for consulting in utility programs promoting comfort, convenience and efficiency.

“Fossil fuel prices have been extremely high and could go higher in the future,” said Metheny. “Now is an important time to work to become more energy efficient and develop economical renewable energy resources.”