Powering Northern Colorado
Powering Northern Colorado 2 | North America Outlook Issue 37
PLATTE RIVER POWER AUTHORITY ENERGY & UTILITIES
W
ith great power comes great responsibility. While this iconic proverb is most famously associated with comics and movies, it simultaneously provides a timeless reminder that our collective impact on the world should be matched by our care for it. This opening statement also resonates as a core belief and proud duty that the Platte River Power Authority (Platte River) integrates within every facet of its operations.
It best showcases the obligation that whenever the authority has the ability, influence, or resources to make a significant impact, there lies a corresponding moral duty to use such power wisely and benefit others. “We’ve successfully partnered with electric utilities in our four owner communities – Estes Park, Fort Collins, Longmont, and Loveland – to provide the region with dependable power since 1973,” introduces General Manager and CEO, Jason Frisbie.
A JOURNEY THROUGH POWER Frisbie joined Platte River in 1982 as a college intern and, upon graduating, began a full-time career at the authority’s Rawhide Energy Station (Rawhide). Having held various positions in facilities, maintenance, fuel handling, and power production, he became Plant Manager in 1999. Then, having transitioned to Division Manager of Power Production in 2001, Frisbie was
Boasting a proud legacy of powering Northern Colorado, the Platte River Power Authority generates reliable, financially sustainable, and environmentally responsible electricity for its four owner communities. We hear more from General Manager and CEO, Jason Frisbie Writer: Ed Budds | Project Manager: Molly Foss
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promoted to COO in 2010, overseeing generation and transmission assets, power sales, fuel, water, and system engineering. This extraordinary journey through the business culminated in becoming General Manager and CEO of Platte River in 2016 and, to this day, he remains resolutely committed to leading the organization during what is proving to be a transformational time in the utilities industry. Frisbie routinely draws on his past experience to help inform the path forward.
“A S A LWAY S , O U R M I S S I O N W I L L G U I D E U S AS WE CHART A PATH FORWARD. RELIABILIT Y REMAINS A KEY FOCUS AS WE WORK TO ENSURE A CONSISTENT AND DEPENDABLE S U P P LY O F P O W E R T O O U R O W N E R COMMUNITIES” – J A S O N F R I S B I E , G E N E R A L M A N A G E R A N D C E O, P L AT T E R I V E R P O W E R AUTHORITY
“It’s about putting the right people in the right place with the right support and the right tools, and establishing clear goals and expectations,” he says. “It’s how we built a world-class power plant and how we’ve served our owner communities for over the last 50 years.” Further, Frisbie believes you cannot expect from others what you do not expect of yourself. “You have to set the tone for the organization and lead by example.”
OVER 50 YEARS OF SERVICE Today, Platte River provides wholesale electric power to its four owner communities on a full requirements basis. “Our authority is a political subdivision and public corporation of the State of Colorado, having originally evolved from the Platte River Municipal Power Association created in 1966,” Frisbie explains. “Four municipalities banded together in 1973 to create a not-forprofit electric utility owned by the
PLATTE RIVER POWER AUTHORITY ENERGY & UTILITIES
PLATTE RIVER’S VISION, MISSION, AND VALUES Vision: To be a respected leader and responsible power provider, improving the region’s quality of life through a more efficient and sustainable energy future. Mission: While driving utility innovation, Platte River aims to safely provide reliable, environmentally responsible, and financially sustainable energy and services to the owner communities of Estes Park, Fort Collins, Longmont, and Loveland. Values: • Safety – Without compromise, Platte River will safeguard the public, its employees, contractors, and assets it manages while fulfilling the overarching mission. • Integrity – The authority conducts business equitably, transparently, and ethically while complying fully with all regulatory requirements. • Service – As a respected leader and responsible energy partner, Platte River empowers its employees to provide energy and superior services to all its owner communities. • Respect – Platte River embraces diversity and a culture of inclusion among employees, stakeholders, and the public.
residents served by each local utility,” he expands. Platte River has delivered exceptional service for the communities of Northern Colorado for over half a century. “While we’re extremely proud of our body of work so far, we’re simultaneously planning for the next 50 years,” Frisbie excites. Ensuring the authority continues to provide families with safe, reliable power means investing in innovative, diverse sources of energy and
partnering with the community at each step of the way. “As always, our mission will guide us as we chart a path forward. Reliability remains a key focus as we work to ensure a consistent and dependable supply of power to our owner communities.” Alongside this, Platte River is equally prioritizing environmental responsibility as it looks to achieve its owner communities’ non-carbon energy goals while protecting the region’s natural resources.
• Operational excellence – The authority strives for continuous improvement and superior performance in all that it does. • Sustainability – Platte River helps its owner communities thrive while working to protect the environment. • Innovation – The authority aims to proactively deliver creative solutions to generate best-in-class products, services, and practices.
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“DESPITE UNPRECEDENTED COST PRESSURES ACROSS T H E U T I L I T I E S I N D U S T R Y, WE CONTINUE TO MAKE STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS IN BOTH OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND OUR EMPLOYEES TO DELIVER RELIABLE, SUSTAINABLE, AND AFFORDABLE SERVICE FOR OUR COMMUNITIES – NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE” – JASON FRISBIE, GENERAL MANAGER AND CEO, P L AT T E R I V E R P O W E R AU T H O R I T Y
Furthermore, as the authority gears up for its next half century of success, financial sustainability must be a point of focus too. “As we continue down the path of decarbonization – we’re on track to exceed 80 percent non-carbon energy by 2030 – our focus is shifting to ever-increasing costs and managing affordability while continuing to provide exceptional
value to the citizens served by our owner communities,” he adds.
RESPONSIBILITY AND COMMUNITY Platte River’s commitment to service and dedication to its local surroundings and communities goes beyond supplying reliable, environmentally responsible, and financially sustainable energy and services.
This commitment is at the heart of public power, a type of utility characterized by a not-for-profit model and community ownership. “We work to enhance the quality of life across our four owner communities by financially supporting local charitable organizations and encouraging our staff members to engage in various volunteering efforts,” Frisbie continues.
PLATTE RIVER POWER AUTHORITY ENERGY & UTILITIES
“Many of our employees live in the very communities that we’re responsible for serving.” From an environmental standpoint, Platte River is equally as passionate about enacting responsible choices to benefit its communities and broader geography.
This core belief is perfectly encapsulated by the bison in Platte River’s logo – a reminder that responsibly operated power generation facilities can coexist peacefully with wildlife when proper care is taken. These magnificent creatures
are sensitive to toxins in their environment and cannot thrive in suboptimal conditions. “We’ve even deemed them our environmental ambassadors – today, one herd of American bison resides at Rawhide, where they’re taken care of by our staff,” he tells us. The use of a manmade reservoir instead of cooling towers makes Rawhide a year-round attraction for migratory birds and other wildlife.
INVESTING IN THE FUTURE Since 1973, Platte River has focused on building an energy system with long-term resilience and sustainability in mind. “We were among the first utilities in the country to add scrubber technology on our coal-fired unit at Rawhide to reduce emissions, and the first utility in Colorado to bring wind energy online in 1998,” Frisbie prides. North America Outlook Issue 37 | 7
PLATTE RIVER POWER AUTHORITY ENERGY & UTILITIES
PLANNING A NON-CARBON ENERGY FUTURE Phasing out coal Platte River is in the process of retiring its coal-powered energy station, Rawhide Unit 1, approximately two decades before its planned retirement, and is transitioning its employees to operate other resources.
Adding renewables The authority has increased solar capacity, expanded wind generation, and added battery storage capacity. Going forward, Platte River expects its resource portfolio to be more than 80 percent non-carbon by 2030.
Investing in long-term reliability At present, Platte River is participating in an energy market that allows the authority to optimize its power portfolio by buying and selling excess energy. Reliability will be further strengthened through a diverse mix of resources, including natural gas generation, battery storage, and a virtual power plant that all serve as dispatchable capacity for a renewable-focused energy mix.
Fostering and maintaining strategic partnerships with vendors has enabled Platte River to efficiently and effectively adapt to system needs and evolving technologies over the years. “We have upgraded many systems at our flagship coal unit, including controls and steam-path technology improvements, with both Emerson and Siemens. These projects have resulted in improved reliability, reduced emissions, and lower operational costs, a true win-win-win for our owner communities,” Frisbie enthuses. Additionally, in 2018, the board of directors adopted a Resource Diversification Policy outlining decarbonization goals long before Colorado established statewide policies. “Since then, we’ve added additional wind, solar, and storage, and partnered with our owner communities to develop virtual power 8 | North America Outlook Issue 37
PLATTE RIVER POWER AUTHORITY ENERGY & UTILITIES
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plant programs to engage customers in the energy transition.” The utility is also optimizing existing generation as they look toward retiring their coal-fired assets by the end of the decade. Three of five single-cycle natural gas-fired turbines have received upgrades over the years, adding capacity to Platte River’s portfolio. “Our existing combustion turbine units are an increasingly important part of our generation portfolio, and we’re in the process of installing new aeroderivative turbine technology. “We will continue to rely on our strategic partnership with vendors for opportunities to improve reliability, efficiency, and cost,” he highlights. Going forward, Platte River will leverage its refreshed strategic plan – set to be finalized this fall – to continue pursuing a 100 percent non-carbon energy mix while maintaining delivery of reliable and financially sustainable
energy and services to its owner communities. However, there’s still more work to do for Platte River to achieve its ambitious goal. The authority first began using battery storage technology in late 2020, but a significant percentage of the non-carbon energy produced is dependent upon the available wind and sunshine required – output therefore varies from day to day and hour to hour. “We were formed to help the owner communities deliver a vital public health and safety service as reliably and affordably as possible. This foundation must be maintained as we pursue our decarbonization goal,” Frisbie clarifies. By staying engaged, purposeful, and intentional with the people that it proudly serves, the authority looks set for a prosperous and fulfilling future of power generation and delivery.
“Despite unprecedented cost pressures across the utilities industry, we continue to make strategic investments in both our infrastructure and our employees to deliver reliable, sustainable, and affordable service for our communities – now and into the future,” he closes.
Tel: (970) 226.4000
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