Appalachian State University’s electric utility, New River Light and Power (NRLP) has switched to Carolina Power Partners (CPP) as its new electric service provider.
Under the new purchase agreement with CPP, NRLP also will purchase hydroelectric power, which will increase its renewable energy purchase portfolio from just below 2% to 15%. NRLP will also be able to continue exploring additional renewable energy sources.
NRLP’s General Manager Ed Miller said, “It is important that NRLP provides safe and reliable utilities to our customers at affordable and competitive rates. CPP is a Carolina-based company that owns one of the most efficient, state-of-the-art power generating facilities and has demonstrated success in other similar communities. After an extensive review by our team and advisors, we believe this new energy contract with CPP will help us continue to meet our core objectives, while also providing increased accessibility to renewable energy opportunities.”
Related stories on Universities and their Electric Power Futures
University of Florida planning new Cogeneration plant without local Utility
James Madison University installs Solar-powered EV Chargers
Most of the energy supplied to the university and its electric utility will be from the Kings Mountain Energy Center, which is a 475 MW combined-cycle power plant in Cleveland County, N.C. An affiliate of NTE Energy developed the Kings Mountain power plant, which was completed and became operational in 2018.
New River Light and Power is a university-owned distribution utility, operated by the school's Division of Business Affairs, which has about 8,500 residential and commercial customers in or around the campus town of Boone, N.C. The utility also works on delivering energy efficiency projects across campus buildings.
The NRLP is one of 12 utilities in the Carolinas that have entered into a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with CPP. The latter is a wholesale electricity provider.
A total of three cities in South Carolina and nine in North Carolina have PPAs with CPP.
-- -- -- -- --
EnergyTech covers the electricity resiliency projects of large-scale users such as college campuses. We report Insights into the C&I Energy Transition, including mission critical customers such as military bases, data centers, health care, universities and industrial manufacturers. Contact Senior Editor Rod Walton at rwalton@endeavorb2b if you have story ideas or questions.
