Black Hills : Energy to Add More Renewable Energy to its Southern Colorado System

Black Hills Energy Issues Request for Proposal for up to 60 MW of Renewable Energy Generation

PUEBLO, CO - June 23, 2017 - Black Hills Energy received Colorado Public Utilities Commission approval to add up to 60 megawatts of renewable energy to serve its customers in southern Colorado. The addition of new generation was part of the company's approved 2016 Electric Resource Plan and 2018-2021 Renewable Energy Standard Compliance Plan, which is completed every four years, and ensures Black Hills Energy is able to meet customers' electricity demand with cost effective resources and comply with Colorado's Renewable Energy Standard.

'Our commitment to renewable energy for southern Colorado continues with the Colorado PUC's recent approval of our Electric Resource and Renewable Energy Standard Compliance Plans, allowing us the opportunity to add up to 60 MW of renewable energy,' said Christopher Burke, vice president of electric operations, Black Hills Energy. 'This additional renewable energy continues our strong record of leadership in the advancement of Colorado's renewable energy objectives.'

Black Hills Energy's Electric Resource Plan identified a need for additional eligible energy resources for compliance with the Colorado Renewable Energy Standard. Through the RFP process, the company will evaluate the addition of renewable energy resources to assist the company in meeting Colorado's renewable energy mandate. The state's renewable energy standard requires state-regulated utilities to obtain 30 percent of the energy they supply to customers from renewable sources by 2020.

Black Hills Energy has issued an RFP to acquire up to 60 megawatts of eligible energy generation resources to serve its customers in southern Colorado today. Eligible energy generation could include renewable energy, recycled energy, or greenhouse gas neutral electricity generated by a facility using coal mine methane or synthetic gas.

Black Hills Energy's Eligible Energy Resources RFP can be found online at bheerrfp.accionpower.com. Interested bidders must complete the bid package online and all inquiries about the RFP and the bid process should be submitted on the RFP website. Black Hills Energy will host a pre-bid webinar with parties interested in offering proposals to the company through this RFP on July 10, 2017. Pre-bid webinar details are posted on the RFP website as well as on Black Hills Energy's website at www.blackhillsenergy.com/2017rfp. Bids will be due August 4, 2017. Black Hills Energy has engaged Accion Group as an independent evaluator for the bidding process.

Colorado state law grants the Colorado PUC the authority to determine the composition of a utility's resource portfolio. A Colorado PUC decision on any resource acquisition proposed by the company as a result of this competitive solicitation is expected by April 2018. This competitive solicitation process ensures that generation resources are procured in the most cost-effective manner.

Tags:news, renewable, Colorado, Resource Plan