DMEA WINS RIGHT TO BUY LOCAL RENEWABLE POWER – Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Says DMEA May Buy from Local Renewable Generators

DMEA WINS RIGHT TO BUY LOCAL RENEWABLE POWER

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Says DMEA May Buy from Local Renewable Generators

(submitted)

In a unanimous decision issued earlier today, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in Washington D.C. ruled that Delta-Montrose Election Association may negotiate to buy power from local generators who rely on renewable resources such as wind, solar, hydro, or geothermal power.

In its unanimous order, FERC ruled that federal law and federal regulations allow these purchases, and do so regardless of whether they are permitted under DMEA’s power supply contract with Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association (“Tri-State”).

“This is a victory not just for DMEA and its members, but for people and communities throughout Delta and Montrose counties,” said Jasen Bronec, CEO of DMEA. “Purchasing local renewable power will further DMEA’s long-term strategic goal of diversifying our power supply, which means more stable rates to our members and lesser impacts from any future power rate increases.”

Bronec noted that today’s ruling “could also mean serious local economic development, as renewable facilities locate to the area to take advantage of our abundant renewable resources in Delta and Montrose counties.”

DMEA had also requested that FERC clarify whether or not Tri-State is a “public utility” under the Federal Power Act, which would have subjected Tri-State to rate review by FERC. FERC Commissioners concluded that Tri-State was not a public utility under that law, and thus not subject to federal rate regulation.

More than 70 individuals and organizations—ranging from individual members, to coal companies, to the Natural Resources Defense Council, to the Aspen Skiing Company—supported DMEA’s FERC petition. “Community support for DMEA was overwhelming,” said DMEA’s Manager of Member Relations & Human Resources, Virginia Harman. “We are sincerely grateful to all of the members, communities, businesses, and chambers of commerce who supported our petition.”