More renewable hydropower will be added to the electric co-op power supply in 2012 thanks to an agreement between Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association and Northern Water with the support of PVREA’s power supplier Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association.
As the result, 7 million to 10 million kilowatt-hours of electricity will be generated annually through a $6 million hydropower facility at Carter Lake, a 112,000-acre 3-mile lake west of Loveland. That is enough electricity to power about 1,000 homes. Carter Lake is a reservoir of the Colorado-Big Thompson Project managed by Northern Water.
"The Carter Lake hydro project is an example of PVREA's commitment to pursue renewable energy resources and make them a part of our generation portfolio mix when they make economic sense and bring value to our membership," said Brad Gaskill, Poudre Valley REA CEO in a statement to the press. "PVREA is excited to be a partner and purchase 100 percent of the energy from this green power project."
According to an article in the Northern Colorado Business Report, the project will include two 1,300-kW turbines, a 2,000-square-foot powerhouse and connections to the existing Carter Lake second outlet and St. Vrain Supply Canal. The project will generate electricity by using the pressure from existing releases at the outlet.
Construction of the project is set to begin in the fall. A 600-foot power line will connect to the PVREA transmission system. PVREA is a 35,500-member cooperative serving members in Weld, Larimer and Boulder counties. It is headquartered in Windsor.