Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association is a wholesale electric power supplier owned by the 44 electric cooperatives that it serves. Tri-State generates and transports electricity to its member systems throughout at 250,000 square mile service territory across Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Wyoming.

Power portfolio
Out of its total 2,442 MW of electric generating capacity in 2005 (0.23% of the U.S. total), Tri-State produced 70.0% from coal, 24.7% from natural gas, and 5.3% from oil. Tri-State owns power plants in Colorado and New Mexico; 81.9% of Tri-State's generating capacity comes from power plants in Colorado.

On hold

 * Unnamed Tri-State Plant

Tri-State to reconsider future coal plant projects
Because of the current economic climate and ongoing uncertainty in federal and state regulations, Tri-State announced in April 2009 that it was revisiting its long-term resource plan, including options for new coal-fired power plants. Ken Anderson, the company's executive vice president and general manager, said in statement, "Significant changes in the regulatory climate and economy impact development projects and have disproportionately affected the near-term outlook for coal-based resources. Part of our reevaluation process will review how coal-based resources fit into our long-term resource plans." Tri-State will consider energy efficiency programs, renewable energy options, natural gas, and "clean coal" and nuclear technologies as part of its long-term planning process.

Existing coal-fired power plants
Tri-State owned 8 coal-fired generating stations in 2005, with 1,710 MW of capacity. Here is a list of Tri-State's coal power plants:

In 2006, Tri-State's 3 coal-fired power plants emitted 14.3 million tons of CO2 and 6,500 tons of SO2.

Related SourceWatch Articles

 * Colorado and coal
 * New Mexico and coal
 * United States and coal
 * Global warming