Strength in a diverse energy mix
Building for the future
We’re evolving our energy mix to meet our members’ needs today and into the future. By investing in solar, wind, natural gas, hydropower, and battery storage, we deliver reliable, resilient, and affordable electricity. Together, we’re powering the rural West with a cleaner energy future.
Our energy resources
What powers our grid
Our diverse energy portfolio powers the rural West with reliability, affordability, and resilience. By combining traditional and renewable resources, Tri-State ensures dependable electricity today while advancing a cleaner, more sustainable future for our members.
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Solar
Solar energy uses sunlight to produce electricity and is an important part of a diverse energy portfolio. It helps meet growing energy needs while supporting long-term sustainability goals. -
Wind
Wind power generates electricity from one of the nation’s most abundant renewable resources. It provides cost-effective energy and contributes to a balanced and resilient power supply. -
Natural Gas
Natural gas generation provides reliable, on-demand electricity that can quickly respond to changes in energy demand. Its flexibility helps support grid stability and complements variable renewable resources such as wind and solar. -
Hydropower
Hydropower was one of the first recognized renewable sources. It generates electricity by capturing the energy of flowing water. As a renewable energy source, it provides dependable power and can help balance the electric grid when demand fluctuates. -
Battery Storage
Battery storage systems offer flexibility to our evolving energy landscape. From homes to large-scale utility installations, batteries help us maximize the grid’s potential. They can extend the benefits of renewable projects, balance voltage on the grid, and act as backup power source.
Power when you need it most
An on-demand resource like a natural gas plant is critical for shoring-up capacity during times of high energy use, low renewable output, or extreme weather conditions. Having multiple sources of generation is how we maintain reliability.
Low-cost, clean power
We pool resources to develop utility-scale wind and solar projects, delivering competitive prices and low operating costs. By harnessing abundant renewable resources across the West—and siting many projects within our members’ service territories—these investments also generate local tax benefits for cooperative communities.
Moving electricity
High-voltage transmission lines carry electricity from generation sites to substations, where voltage is lowered for homes and businesses. Tri-State’s substation technicians, telecommunications specialists, and lineworkers work tirelessly to maintain this critical system.
Generation capacity in 2025
Renewables
We have over a dozen renewable projects in our portfolio with more on the way. This includes federal hydropower, which Tri-State has used since our start in 1952. We’re also adding utility-scale storage batteries to our system, which will help us use renewable energy more efficiently.
Contracts
We are longstanding members of the federal agency WAPA (Western Area Power Administration) and not-for-profit electric cooperative Basin. We have long term power purchasing contracts with them to help supply members with cost-effective electricity.
Natural gas/oil
Natural gas helps Tri-State maintain reliability. This type of generation operates independently of weather or time of day, and can be crucial during storms or extreme temperatures.
Coal
Thermal generation, like coal, helps Tri-State maintain reliability. This type of generation operates independently of weather or time of day, and can be crucial during storms or extreme temperatures. However, our coal operations in Craig, CO are set to retire in 2028 to accommodate emissions and economic goals.
Member renewables
Members have an option to self-supply a portion of their own power, and some have developed local renewable energy projects as a result. This percentage will grow as members collaborate with each other to build even more renewable, as a part of our Bring Your Own Resource program.
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Partnering with our members to add flexible, clean power
Our board policy 115 policy provides flexibility to Tri-State members by allowing them to develop their own projects that reflect the unique advantages and needs in their service area and keep consumer costs low. These projects undergo independent evaluations to meet reliability, economic, and environmental criteria, supporting our ongoing commitment to increasing renewable energy usage among our members.
(Pictured) Tri-State member Sangre de Cristo’s Trout Creek Solar Project
Pooling our resources
We all know how reliable power is critical to our rural way of life.
Following years of collaboration with other regional utilities, transmission providers and stakeholders, Tri-State has expanded its participation in the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) to help deliver more reliable and affordable electricity to its members. With support from Colorado regulators, this move is expected to save millions each year while making the power grid more efficient and better connected across the West.
Learn why we’re in SPP