Electric service provider Minnesota Power has released the first in a series of requests for proposals (RFPs) as part of the company’s resource evaluation process to further its Energy Forward strategy, which calls for a diversified power supply to meet customers’ needs reliably and cost-effectively, according to the company.
Minnesota Power says it was asked by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, after it had approved the company’s integrated resource plan in June, to consider additional wind, solar and demand-side management alternatives as part of its ongoing resource evaluation process.
In this initial RFP, the company says, it is seeking power supply proposals for up to 300 MW of wind beyond the 625 MW it already has on its system. Further, Minnesota Power says it seeks to purchase low-cost renewable energy that fully maximizes the benefits of the extended production tax credit for wind projects on behalf of its customers.
This wind power would be purchased under a long-term power purchase agreement subject to regulatory approvals, the company adds.
Moreover, Minnesota Power says that over the next several weeks, it will also issue formal RFPs for the following:
- Solar generation – The company will be seeking economic power supply proposals for up to 300 MW of utility-scale solar generation that qualifies under Minnesota’s Solar Energy Standard.
- Demand response and customer self-generation – Minnesota Power will be seeking customer and utility-scale demand response and on-site generation resources to be considered for optimizing within its power supply portfolio.
Proposals are due by Sept. 7. Additional details about the RFPs can be found here.
