People in Power – A NewsData Podcast Resource Planning and the Embrace of SPP’s RTO Expansion
Feb 14, 2025
Duane Highley, CEO of Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, discusses the intricate balance of energy needs across diverse states. He delves into the organization's shift towards renewable energy and the retirement of fossil fuels while ensuring reliability. Highley highlights the political complexities in energy strategies and the importance of bipartisan collaboration for infrastructure improvements. He also addresses challenges in integrating new transmission lines and the potential of regional transmission organizations to enhance grid reliability amidst decarbonization efforts.
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Level 2 Reliability
- Extreme weather modeling (Level 2 reliability) isn't common practice for utilities.
- Tri-State uses it to demonstrate the need for a diverse resource mix.
Cost Savings from Fuel Diversity
- Tri-State's members only experienced $11 million in excess costs during the 2021 Texas storm.
- Xcel Energy, a larger utility, faced $800 million, highlighting the value of fuel diversity.
Need for a Western RTO
- Duane Highley advocates for a Western RTO to integrate renewables and manage resource adequacy.
- He highlights concerns about non-regulated players lacking adequate resources and Colorado's resource adequacy report.