HAYS, Kan., Aug. 14, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Because a previous wind development agreement was not completed, Sunflower Electric Power Corporation issued a new Request for Proposals (RFP) to wind energy developers on August 11.
The request calls for a developer to deliver 50 megawatts (MW) of wind-generated energy, beginning no later than October 1, 2007, through a 20-year power purchase agreement. The previous agreement in Wichita County would have been 30 MW.
Robert Johnson, Sunflower's Executive Manager, Engineering and Energy Services, commenting on the proposal said, "Sunflower wants to provide a renewable energy option for its Member systems and use renewable energy, where possible, to avoid higher-cost boiler fuels, like natural gas. But," he said, "this must be accomplished at a cost that does not increase our wholesale rates."
Responders will be required to demonstrate a history of successful wind energy project development, and be capable of completing the project within the required time frame. The successful Responder will also be required to provide financial security, in a form acceptable to Sunflower, to ensure timely completion of the project.
Responders must submit proposals on or before August 31. The RFP may be downloaded at http://www.sunflower.net/wind.pdf.
The evaluation of the proposals will be completed by September 14. One or more Responders will be invited to meet with Sunflower to further discussions of their proposal. A final determination will occur by October 5.
This RFP was developed as a result of the work of the Alternative Generation Resource Team recently appointed by Sunflower's President and CEO, Earl Watkins. He said, "While we are several years from the time our system will require additional baseload generation resources, I believe we must actively work to develop a plan that will help Sunflower continue its proud tradition as a reliable power supplier throughout the region."
This Alternative Generation Resource Team was organized with the goal of determining what opportunities exist for the development of renewable energy in Sunflower's service area. They are looking for alliances and partnerships with other renewable energy entrepreneurs and development groups throughout the region.
Two other teams were also formed by Watkins to look at Sunflower's system load requirements and its future generation resource needs.
The Demand Side Management Resource Team is searching for strategies Sunflower might implement to mitigate the need for additional generation capacity by actively managing the growing peak load on the Sunflower system.
The Next Generation Resource Team is planning for the next generating unit that Sunflower will need once the Holcomb Expansion Project is completed. This group will conduct a thorough review of emerging generation technologies and consider the potential for future utilization of Kansas' short-line railroads and coal mines.
About Sunflower
Sunflower Electric Power Corporation is a regional wholesale power supplier that owns and operates a 595 MW system of gas and coal-based generating plants and a 1,200-mile transmission system for the needs of its six Member cooperatives that serve 118,000 people spread throughout a 21,000 square mile area in western Kansas. Sunflower also provides power to regional utilities in western Kansas and in ten states. Visit Sunflower's website at http://www.sunflower.net
Sunflower's Member cooperatives include Lane-Scott Electric Cooperative, Dighton, Pioneer Electric Cooperative, Ulysses, Prairie Land Electric Cooperative, Norton, Victory Electric Cooperative Association, Dodge City, Western Cooperative Electric Association, WaKeeney, and Wheatland Electric Cooperative, Scott City, Kansas.