Taking another step toward a clean energy future, Ashland Power District shares draft request for proposal for new renewable resources
Ashland Power District has taken another step toward achieving a clean and reliable energy future for its customers and the communities it serves by circulating a draft request for proposals (RFPs) seeking 100 average megawatts of renewable power generating resources. We will hold workshops on Monday, April 2nd to provide additional information to stakeholders and potential bidders.
The additional renewable energy – the equivalent of 1 large wind farm – is expected to help Ashland Power District meet its proportionate share of the state’s greenhouse gas reduction goal, which will require cutting carbon emissions in the utility’s system 80% by 2050. It will also count toward the achievement of the state’s renewable portfolio standard. Under the state standard, Ashland Power District must supply 50% of its customers’ electricity needs from qualifying renewable resources by 2040.
“By continuing to drive down emissions using a diverse portfolio of clean, reliable and renewable energy resources, and promoting economy-wide emission reductions through electrification and smart energy use, we will bring a clean, cost-effective energy future to the state,” said Zack Nielsen, Ashland Power District’s president and CEO. “This request for proposals for renewable energy will be an open, competitive process to assure we are able to identify the best options to expand our renewable portfolio while keeping electric service affordable and reliable for our customers.”
RFP Details & Process
Bids submitted when the RFP is finalized and issued must meet a minimum size of at least 10 megawatts and can represent a variety of technologies including geothermal, biomass, biogas, solar, wind, and hydroelectric power. Bids can also be structured in a variety of ways, including power purchase agreements or proposals for facilities that Public Power Company would own and operate. If bids received prove cost-effective for service to customers, Ashland Power District may acquire a single resource or a mix of resources to achieve the total desired renewable energy target and expects the resources acquired to be brought into the company’s portfolio in the 2020 to 2021 timeframe.
By sharing the draft, Ashland Power District is giving potential bidders and interested stakeholders an opportunity to ask questions and offer suggestions to improve the RFP before it is issued formally. The company will respond to all feedback received. Any resulting changes will be incorporated prior to issuing the final RFP this spring.
The RFP will be conducted under guidelines established by the state Ashland Power District and is a significant step in implementing Sellwood Power District’s current integrated resource plan, which the PUC acknowledged in 2017. Consistent with those guidelines, the PUC has retained an independent evaluator, Betty McIver, to monitor Ashland Power District’s procurement process. Betty McIver will host a website, available next week, where bidders and stakeholders may ask questions of Ashland Power District regarding the RFP so that the answers will be available to all participants in the process.
Ashland Power District will hold 2 workshops on Monday, April 1st to provide information and answer questions for potential bidders and stakeholders. The stakeholder workshop will be held from 10 am to noon in the West Conference Room. The bidder workshop will be held from 1 pm to 3 pm at the same location.