Electric Engines Power a Cleaner Future 

As a cooperative, we know that when people come together, we can achieve greater results than any one of us could have done alone.  Such was the case in the electrification of the Dahlia Station, a key depot along the Amarillo-to-Albuquerque pipeline managed by NuStar Energy – one of the nation’s largest independent liquids terminal and pipeline operators.  

With the station’s construction dating back to the 1950s, the diesel pumps originally installed were not only difficult to maintain, but the parts needed for repairs were becoming harder to find. This inspired NuStar’s engineering team to start looking for an answer that would improve the operational reliability of the station while also reducing emissions.  

“This project is a story about environmental stewardship and timing,” details Thomas Eitzen, Central West North Regional Engineering Manager at NuStar. After pouring a decade of research, Eitzen and his team knew that using an energy-efficient replacement meant they needed a reliable power source in the area.  

The Power of Collaboration 

In 2022, NuStar approached Tri-State G&T member Central New Mexico Electric Cooperative with the idea of upgrading the station’s two 800-horsepower diesel motors with electric variable frequency drive (VFD) pumps. 

With a significant reduction in emissions and new capabilities, collaborating on this project was an easy decision for CNMEC CEO Alena Brandenberger.  

“For both parties, it was a win-win,” said Brandenberger “As a co-op our sole purpose is to grow and help our rural areas flourish so that's one of the reasons we were thrilled to be able to be a part of this project.” 

Over the next two years, CNMEC and NuStar would work closely together to safely and successfully pull off one of the first electrification efforts of its kind in the state of New Mexico.  

The VFD pumps provided a viable and effective answer for the aging station. They dramatically decreased the emissions associated with diesel-controlled pipelines while eliminating the use of environmentally sensitive chemicals like coolant and antifreeze. As explained in NuStar’s Sustainability Report, they also installed a drag-reducing agent which allowed them to pump the same amount of product with a lower energy output. 

While Eitzen and NuStar’s engineers handled the pumps, CNMEC, led by Manager of Operations Raymond Butler, worked out how to get the necessary level of power to the Dahlia Station.  

This involved reconductoring over 30 miles of power lines to be able to supply the new pumps, an endeavor Butler and his team welcomed. “When you get electricity [on site], there's less maintenance, there's more reliability and it's a whole lot cleaner,” he summarized. 

Tri-State Contributes a Six-Figure Rebate 

Tri-State was pleased to be able to contribute to this high-impact emissions reduction effort by offering a rebate of $104,273 back to NuStar Energy to offset the total cost of the upgrade.  

“Greenhouse gas emission reduction is taking center stage, not only here in the state of New Mexico, but across the US,” said Jay Mendoza, the Tri-State Relationship Manager to CNMEC. While Tri-State members may be familiar with the rebates available to them as individuals on items like EV chargers or dual-system heat pumps, we are always looking for new ways to help our co-ops and the communities we serve. This includes our Oil & Gas Program, which provides rebates for energy efficiency and electrification efforts.  

“Even if there's not a specific rebate incentive, we are always open to listening, working with our member system and trying to facilitate any beneficial electrification we can for the co-op,” continued Mendoza. 

The Impact of Electrification 

The two new VFD pumps at the Dahlia Station are projected to increase NuStar’s load growth to 4,374,655 kWh per year and reduce CO2 emissions by 1,089 metric tons per year. 

According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator, this is equivalent to saving 107k gallons of diesel gasoline consumed, 2.8 million miles driven by a car, or 212 homes’ electricity use for a whole year.   

 It is also estimated to lower the annual electric costs by close to $163k.  

Projects like the electrification of the Dahlia Station and the collaboration that went into it are a perfect example of how Tri-State, our members and partners are coming together to power a cleaner future and create an impact for the planet.  

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About Tri-State   

Tri-State is a not-for-profit cooperative of 45 members, including 42 electric distribution cooperatives and public power districts in four states, that together deliver reliable, affordable, and responsible power to more than a million electricity consumers across nearly 200,000 square miles of the West. For more information about Tri-State and our Responsible Energy Plan, visit www.tristate.coop.   

About NuStar Energy 

NuStar currently has approximately 9,500 miles of pipeline and 63 terminal and storage facilities that store and distribute crude oil, refined products, renewable fuels, ammonia, and specialty liquids. NuStar has been ranked as one of FORTUNE’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” 13 times and lauded for its tremendous commitment to community service. 

About Central New Mexico Electric Cooperative 

CNMEC is an electric cooperative, built by the communities we serve to deliver reliable, sustainable, and affordable energy. We answer to local members, rather than out-of-town shareholders, so our electric cooperative has a unique understanding of our local needs with many of our leaders and employees living right here in the community.