State regulators have approved Puget Sound Energy's (PSE's) proposed process for seeking approximately 150 megawatts of wind-power capacity as the utility seeks to add new resources to its generation portfolio. The approval by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission is on condition that PSE will file an all-source draft request for proposals (RFP).

The RFP seeks proposals for long-term purchase-power agreements or PSE ownership of wind-power projects. PSE expects the RFP will result in one or more projects that will come online by the end of 2005. PSE has set a target to supply at least 10 percent of its customers' total electricity supply by 2014 from renewable energy sources like wind power. Earlier this year, the utility developed a Least Cost Plan to guide PSE in providing customers with a diversified mix of stable and reliable energy resources.

- J.J. Siegel

Publication date: 12/22/2003