Platte River expanding wind power

FORT COLLINS – Platte River Power Authority is planning to spend more than $20 million to add up to 30 megawatts of wind power to its energy-production portfolio.

The move comes in response to growing local demand for wind-generated electricity and to meet government mandates, according to John Bleem, PRPA’s division manager of customer and environmental services.

Bleem noted that the state now requires utilities to provide at least 1 percent of its power from renewable sources, such as wind and solar, with that percentage set to rise steadily over the next decade. Its owner municipalities are also asking for more electricity…