The pursuit and creative utilization of wind power resources has earned Silicon Valley Power (SVP), the City of Santa Clara’s municipal electric utility, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) 2014 Public Power Wind Award. The DOE cited SVP innovation and customer benefits in announcing the national award at the American Public Power Association’s National Conference in Denver, Colorado.
“Wind and water are two of our cleanest and cheapest sources of electricity,” said John Roukema, Director of SVP. “Wind power helps Santa Clara keep electric rates among the lowest in the state and helps make up for the scarcity of hydroelectric power in a drought year.”
Instead of regularly utilizing hydro-generated power to serve day-to-day needs, SVP has access to as much as 200 MW of wind energy. Tapping that power when it is available allows SVP to preserve water levels at its hydroelectric reservoirs for use when electricity demand spikes during heat waves.
In 1982, SVP became a pioneer in harnessing wind to generate power when it invested in a 20MW wind farm on Altamount Pass in the East Bay. Subsequent long-term investments with Iberdrola Renewables, the latest in 2012, also bring in power from the Big Horn Wind Energy Project in Washington and the Manzana Wind Power Project in Southern California.
Over 30% of SVP’s power comes from carbon-free wind, hydroelectric, solar, geothermal and landfill gas generation resources – well ahead of California’s Renewable Portfolio Standard requirements.
“We recognize our responsibility to provide efficient, clean and reliable energy to our community at rates up to 45% lower than those in neighboring cities,” said Roukema.