The strong, consistent winds in Wyoming have started to whirl and pirouette with five new wind turbines at Platte River Power Authority's Medicine Bow Wind Project. Further expansion is planned, with the total number of turbines growing to 10 by summer 2000.

The first turbine installed at the site-a 65-kilowatt Nordtank turbine-began operating in September 1996. It was followed by the installation of the two 600-kW turbines during winter 1997-1998. Platte River has secured development rights, permits, and a 40-year lease to allow further expansion of the wind generating site.

The new turbines will spin out energy for several Colorado customers. The new 660-kW Vestas-American wind turbines began operating the week of Oct. 4, 1999.

Customers for the turbines include:
The New Belgium Brewing Company in Fort Collins. One turbine supplies all the brewery's electricity as part of the city's wind power program..

The City of Fort Collins, supplying other commercial and residential customers in Fort Collins with 1.5 of the new turbines in addition to 100 percent of the two 600-kW units installed in April 1998.

The Cities of Longmont and Loveland. Together, these two Front Range cities receive half the output of one turbine.

The City of Aspen, which receives the output of one turbine through the Municipal Energy Association of Nebraska.

Tri-State Generation and Transmission, Inc., which receives the output of one turbine.

Turbines that will be installed this summer will provide additional power for Fort Collins, Longmont, and Loveland customers. They'll also produce energy for Estes Park, which will begin offering wind energy to its customers.

PRPA is a public power utility with facilities primarily
located along the Front Range of northern Colorado. It provides wholesale electricity and support services to its owner cities of Estes Park, Fort Collins, Longmont, and Loveland, and to other utilities and businesses in the Western United States.

Turbine performance
Since initial startup, Platte River Power Authority's Vestas turbines have realized an average availability of about 97 percent.

Longmont joins PRPA wind program
Longmont, Colo., Power and Communications began signing up subscribers for its green power program in September. Within three weeks, the 40,000 kilowatthours of wind energy from Platte River Power Authority was fully subscribed.

More than 150 residential and two business customers signed up for the program. But that wasn't all.

"We've got a waiting list for another 15,000 kWh," said Bill Ewer, Longmont Power and Communication's Customer Service and Marketing manager. To meet the demand, Longmont has committed to take another 40,000 kWh from the turbines PRPA will build this spring.

The program's popularity is an indication of the utility industry's direction, Ewer believes. "It's nice to see the community take to a program like this and support it," he said. "Green energy alternatives will become more and more important. We're going to see more demand. Working with a wholesale power supplier that has this type of program is an advantage for us."

Longmont, Fort Collins, Loveland, and Estes Park all receive wholesale energy from Platte River Power Authority, a community-owned power supplier.

Longmont used a brochure, newspaper advertising and targeted direct mail pieces to advertise the program. The utility has a database of customers who have expressed interest in green energy, and they received direct-mail pieces about the program.

"EcoCycle, a Boulder County recycling agency, does a quarterly newsletter that goes to neighborhood group leaders. It focuses mainly on recycling, but EcoCycle agreed to include our brochure as an insert. We got good coverage, especially with people involved in environmental issues."

Longmont's City Council voted to offer a green pricing program at its March 30, 1999, meeting. Longmont Power and Communications customers can choose to pay a premium of 2.5 cents per kWh to receive the wind energy. The green power fee is added to the customer's monthly energy bill. Participants must commit to the program for 12 months.

To simplify the program, residential subscribers buy wind energy in blocks of 100 kWh for an additional $2.50 per month. Commercial customers can buy wind in blocks of 500 kWh for $12.50 per month.