Integrated Test Center breaks ground in Wyoming

The next generation of low-carbon energy technology is now one small step closer to reality with the recent groundbreaking at the Dry Fork Power Station outside Gillette, Wyoming. In a few years, the Wyoming Integrated Test Center (ITC) will house teams competing for millions in prize money for their solutions to carbon management.

The ITC is a model public-private partnership that will provide space for researchers to test Carbon Capture, Utilization and Sequestration (CCUS) technologies. Only the second center of its kind in the United States, the ITC alleviates typical concerns around transferring technology from the lab to a power plant since test center users and XPRIZE competitors will be working with real flue gas directed from the plant to the test center.

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association's Ellen Connor shared insights into the history of the project as well as Tri-State’s current involvement, "Six years ago Tri-State began working on the idea that the country needed to explore new paths to manage the carbon, but we knew we couldn't solve this problem alone." She added, "Tri-State was proud to commit funds to ensure the ITC project could move forward. We are very grateful to Basin Electric Power Corporation for making Dry Fork Station available for this project, and for our national trade association the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association for also supporting the ITC."

Coal powers jobs and homes in the West, and the future of the industry may drastically improve with the development of CCUS technologies. Tri-State is proud to be a part of this landmark endeavor and will continue to share updates as the ITC nears completion.