The business of power generation and delivery is complex. However, we at Lassen Municipal Utility District have been proactive in the procurement of power resources we provide to our community. The Skedaddle Substation project and our future connection with NV Energy will allow us to expand our power market and, most importantly, provide renewable power at prices much lower than our current power mix. We are working with several power producers, including two that produce power in our own backyard.
Baseload Power Plant, located in Wendel, uses the heat from local geothermal resources to produce electricity and has the potential to generate approximately 300 kilowatts of electricity around the clock. This is equivalent to the amount of electricity needed to power more than 200 homes each month.
H.L. Solar is another locally produced energy source. LMUD contracts with NextEra, the owner of the facility, to buy the seven megawatts of solar energy produced by the plant. Our long-term contract with H.L. Solar will provide clean, renewable energy to our customers for years to come.
In addition to these locally produced renewable energy projects, LMUD has contracts in place with 2 other renewable energy producers. Open Mountain Energy geothermal plant in Yerington, Nevada and Red Mesa and a solar plant built in collaboration with the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority in Southern Utah.
Open Mountain is expected to come online in 2025. Our contracted amount of energy will supply our customers with enough electricity to power about 2,000 homes with an use of 12,000 kilowatt-hours per year. Red Mesa solar has been in the works for several years. We expect to use 3 megawatts of power from this plant upon completion of our Skedaddle Substation.
LMUD is dedicated to maintaining reliable and cost-effective power, balancing the need to meet state and federal energy mandates without sacrificing reliability or our customers’ need and priorities.
We will continue to look for opportunities to buy power as we prepare to connect to the NV Energy system. Once connected to this system, many additional options will become available. We will evaluate and select the best possible mix of power, including renewables, for our community.
Pat Holley
General Manager