Where do your renewables come from?

By pooling resources through our cooperative family to develop larger, utility-scale renewable energy projects, our members are able to secure the most competitive prices for wind and solar energy. These renewable projects are real, on-the-ground wind farms and solar arrays that deliver energy and economic benefits in our members' communities. And since these projects serve all of our members, individual utility members don't shoulder the responsibility or risks for development alone, and instead enjoy the benefits together. These utility-scale renewable projects are a win-win for members, and they deliver low cost and clean power:

What renewable projects are developed?

For members that want flexibility to develop local generation in addition to our utility-scale projects, there are options to help members reach their goals. We were one of the first G&T cooperatives in the country to create local member generation programs, and our members have made them very successful!

Utility-scale renewables

Delivering the most renewables, for less
On behalf of all our members, we contract for large renewable energy projects at the lowest costs. We locate these large wind farms and solar fields in our members' service territories so that the benefits stay within the communities served by cooperatives. In addition, we can also work with our members to purchase power from projects that they support in their communities, as well as purchase power at market-based rates from independent developers.

Local renewable generation

Keeping generation local
Tri-State was one of the first generation and transmission cooperatives to develop options for members to develop local renewable energy projects. Today, members have many options to pursue local renewable resources as they see fit. Members can serve up to 5% of their load with local resources, and above that level with a certain amount of community solar projects. Tri-State also works with our members to purchase renewable energy certificates (REC) from their local projects, or from net metered projects. Members can further support renewable energy by offering "green power programs" to consumers.

Member self-supply 

Flexibility to meet member needs
As part of our Responsible Energy Plan, we are working with our members to provide more flexible, partial requirements contracts. In addition to the opportunities above, this new type of contract gives members the option to self supply power up to 50% of their load, including through local renewable energy. In total, a pool of 300 megawatts is available for membership self supply.

Tri-State and member renewable projects

At the end of 2019, half our members had taken advantage of these member-led programs to develop local renewables, and together they’ve built over 130 megawatts of generation, with more on the way.

Upcoming renewables projects

Our clean energy transition significantly expands renewable energy generation. We’re accelerating the retirement of our coal generation and adding clean energy in locations across our members’ service territories. We’re adding six utility-scale solar projects and two utility-scale wind projects, bringing our system up to over 2 gigawatts of renewables by the end of 2024. This will include the most solar of any cooperative in the nation.