Platte River asks to delay its integrated resource plan

FORT COLLINS — Platte River Power Authority has asked the Western Area Power Administration for permission to delay the filing of its 2020 integrated resource plan.

The power cooperative had planned to file the plan as required but has been unable to gather sufficient public input in person because of the COVID-19 virus stay-at-home orders.

It has asked to delay filing the report until December. The filing could occur sooner if restrictions on public gatherings are lifted.

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Platte River must prepare for the retirement of 431 megawatts (MW) of dispatchable, coal-fired generation by the end of the decade and address more frequent extreme weather events that can bring dark calms (periods when there is no sun or wind).

“Rather than by video or conference calls, we want deliberation regarding our IRP to be open, accessible and in-person,” said Jason Frisbie, general manager and CEO of Platte River. “Direct public engagement will continue when it’s safe for our board, leadership, staff and the public to gather and discuss these important energy issues.” 

Frisbie noted that customers of Platte River’s owner communities — Estes Park, Fort Collins, Longmont and Loveland — have provided significant input concerning the utility’s future energy mix options through numerous listening sessions, focus group meetings and surveys, and can continue to provide input through a microsite created for the IRP: www.prpa.org/irp.