Idaho regulator clears Idaho Power's PPAs for six wind projects

(ADPnews) - Dec 30, 2010 - The Idaho Public Utilities Commission on Tuesday gave the green light to state utility Idaho Power Company to sign power purchase agreements (PPAs) with a developer of six wind projects in Idaho.

The agreements have a total net present value of USD 208.9 million (EUR 157.7m), according to the regulator.

The wind farms, Cold Springs, Desert Meadow, Hammett Hill, Mainline, Ryegrass and Two Ponds, have 23 MW of installed capacity each. But the PPAs require the delivery of 10 MW of average power per month from each project. If the projects exceed the agreed average capacity, Idaho Power can accept the energy without paying for it.

Thus, the projects qualify to regulations of the Public Regulatory Policies Act, under which power utilities offer to buy power from small power projects with capacity up to 10 MW at a rate set by the commission.

The commission estimated that the wind farms will produce a total of 303,648 MWh of electricity a year.

The PPAs have a non-levelized rate that rises through their 20-year term. The rate for normal load hours during normal seasons in 2013 is set at USD 61.93 per MWh and comes to USD 121.76 per MWh in 2032.

The annual value of the expected generation is estimated at USD 18.8 million in 2013 and USD 36.9 million in 2032.

(USD 1= EUR 0.755)

Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!