PacifiCorp eyes 13.7 GW of renewables, storage by 2038 in draft IRP

Wind turbines. Image by: PacifiCorp (www.pacificorp.com).

US power company PacifiCorp last week released a draft of its long-term energy plan, unveiling its intention to add some 7,000 MW of new renewable energy and battery storage by 2025 and a total of 13,700 MW by 2038.

For the first time, the draft “preferred portfolio” for the 2019 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) identifies battery storage as part of “a least-cost portfolio.” The company noted that all of the energy storage that is planned for deployment by 2025 will be paired with new solar power generating capacity and, starting in 2028, almost 1,400 MW of stand-alone storage resources will be added, as well.

When it comes to wind power, the electric utility plans to add over 3,500 MW of new capacity by 2025, including resources acquired through customer partnerships. For 2038, the target exceeds 4,600 MW of new wind generation in total, including over 1,500 MW that is currently under construction.

The table below shows PacifiCorp’s solar and storage plans for each state through 2038.

State	Capacity	Timeframe
Utah	3,000 MW of solar, 635 MW of battery storage	2020-2037
Wyoming	1,415 MW of solar, 354 MW of battery storage	2024-2038
Oregon	1,075 MW of solar, 244 MW of battery storage	2020-2033
Washington	814 MW of solar, 204 MW of battery storage	2024-2036

PacifiCorp also intends to build the 400-mile Gateway South transmission line in addition to the 140-mile Gateway West transmission segment in Wyoming, in order to connect southeastern Wyoming and northern Utah.

By 2030, the company envisages retiring 16 of the 24 coal units currently serving its customers. By the end of the planning period in 2038, a total of 20 units will be retired.

The company, part of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Energy, anticipates filing the final IRP by October 18, it said.

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