Flathead Electric Cooperative is proactively planning for our long-term power supply to ensure reliable, affordable electricity amidst continued growth. We must evaluate additional generation and transmission resources now to protect our members from a volatile energy market. Developing new energy infrastructure takes years, so we must plan ahead rather than risk falling behind.
Through a transparent, data-driven planning process, we are considering an all-of-the-above energy strategy that balances renewable resources, dependable around-the-clock power, cost certainty, and system reliability. This thoughtful, long-term approach is designed to protect our members, maintain affordability, and secure a resilient energy future for our region.
With our region growing and energy markets becoming more unpredictable, we are planning for new power resources now to lock in stable rates and ensure we have enough electricity to meet your future needs. Developing new energy infrastructure takes years, so we must plan ahead now to protect reliability and affordability.
Resource adequacy means having both enough electricity and the transmission capacity to deliver it exactly when our members need it most, especially during peak morning and evening hours.
Most of the electricity we provide to our members comes from federally generated hydropower purchased through the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA).
Because our "preference power" allocation of low-cost federal hydropower from BPA is being fully used, any additional electricity we need must come from other resources. BPA can't build new generation, so it will rely on securing power purchase agreements for other resources or purchases of available market power to meet that additional need, which can increase future power costs and price volatility.
Yes. Flathead Electric Cooperative supports an all-of-the-above strategy and continues investing in renewable resources where they make sense. However, wind and solar alone cannot currently provide dependable, around-the-clock power, especially during peak demand or extreme weather. Advancements in battery storage could benefit the use of renewables, but the current technology doesn't last long enough to get us through a multi-day cold snap. We are looking into long-term storage options, but they aren't quite ready for commercial use yet.
Trustees are exploring the possibility of investing in a natural gas combined cycle facility to meet future power needs. This technology is highly efficient, provides reliable 24/7 power, can quickly respond to demand changes, and supports renewables by providing backup when wind and solar are not generating. It checks all the boxes compared to other generating resource options.
At this time, there are no commercially available nuclear options that meet our timeline, scale, and cost requirements. We will continue to monitor promising emerging technologies, such as small modular nuclear, but we cannot plan around solutions that are not yet commercially viable.
One goal of planning early is to protect long-term affordability. By thoughtfully evaluating options like long-term power purchase agreements or ownership in generation resources, we can create more cost certainty rather than relying on short-term market purchases.
Waiting increases the risk of higher costs, potential power shortages, and rushed decisions. New utility-scale generation takes at least five years to develop, and often longer due to regulatory and supply chain challenges and transmission requirements. Proactive planning is essential.
As a member-owned Cooperative, transparency is central to our mission. We are committed to clearly explaining the challenges, sharing the options being evaluated, and providing opportunities for member questions and feedback throughout the planning process.
