Westar Energy has announced that it is considering additional renewable energy resources by seeking bids for as much as 500MW.
Currently, Westar has 295MW of wind resources representing 6% of its customers’ peak demand. An additional 200MW would have it meeting a 10% renewable level. In the request for bids, Westar said it is evaluating up to 200MW of the generation being on line by late 2010 and the remainder on line by late 2013.
According to the company, the request invites firms to submit proposals wherein Westar Energy would own the facility after development and construction. Additionally, bidders may provide other options to Westar including entering into an agreement to sell to Westar the electricity produced at the facility or other options bidders believe would be attractive to Westar and its customers.
The company said that the proposals will be due March 30, 2009 at which time Westar Energy will begin reviewing the submissions.
Bill Moore, CEO of Westar Energy, said: “Westar Energy continues to seek additional generation resources to provide for Kansas’ electricity needs with clean, renewable energy.”
Westar Energy claims to be the largest consolidated electric utility in Kansas, providing electric service to more than 675,000 customers in the state. It says that the company has about 6,500 megawatts of electric generation capacity and operates and coordinates more than 33,000 miles of electric distribution and transmission lines.
