Integrated Resource Planning
At its regular meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2006, the City Commission voted 3-2 in favor of Staff's recommendation to conclude the 2004 Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) Study by adopting a 5-year preferred resource plan covering the period 2007-2012.
Subsequent to the City Commission’s decision in December 2006, there have been two changes to the City’s planned resources and the continued evolution of a number of legislative and regulatory policy issues that have long-term implications for the City’s future resource plans. The changes that have occurred include the approval by the Commission in June 2007 of a purchase agreement for approximately 35MW of power from Renewable Fuels Tallahassee (RFT) in addition to the agreement already approved with BG&E, and the suspension of TEC permitting activities in July 2007. At their meeting on April 16, 2008, the City Commission adopted a revised preferred resource plan for the period 2008-2017 that consists of the repowering of Hopkins Unit 2, an aggressive DSM portfolio, green energy purchase agreements with BG&E and RFT, and two new 50 MW gas turbines, one to be placed in-service by the summer of 2016, and the second to be in-service by the summer of 2017.
IRP Documents
A Plan for Tallahassee's Energy Future
The approved 5-year plan includes:
Repowering Hopkins Unit 2 – This project will convert the existing Hopkins 2 conventional steam generating unit to combined cycle generating unit to be in service by the summer of 2008. This will result in a net capacity increase of 68 megawatts (summer net) and efficiency improvement of ~30%. (Initially approved as part of resource plan by the City Commission on October 26, 2005.) Completed
Implementation of an aggressive demand-side management (DSM) program – The City's program will include conservation, energy efficiency and demand response/control measures to reduce customer electric demand beginning in 2007. The DSM program will target demand reductions of 59 megawatts by 2012 and 162 megawatts by 2025. (The City Commission voted in support of DSM as part of resource plan on August 23, 2006 and approved funding for refinement of DSM estimates on September 27, 2006.)
A 38 megawatt renewable energy purchase starting in 2011 – The energy will come from a biomass-fueled generating unit to be built and operated by a private developer, Biomass Gas & Electric (BG&E). The purchase contract will include an option to increase the amount purchased to 75 megawatt pending satisfactory demonstration of reliable and economical operation of the 38-megawatt facility. The contract also provides for the City's purchase of 60 MMBtu per hour of pipeline quality gas derived from biomass. (The City Commission approved the purchase contract on October 11, 2006.)