20161006City of Ketchum Comments.pdf

City of Ketchum
October 4, 2016
Mr. Joe Leckie
Executive Administrator
Public Utilities Commission
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0074
Dear Mr. Leckie and Commissioners:
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The currently proposed $30 million redundant line is not designed to provide sufficient flexibility to
accommodate future technologies. This is a significant investment today that must be positioned to
accommodate emerging generation and distribution options into the future. The current Idaho Power proposal
lacks details that are needed to determine if the proposed cost, location, and need are feasible. Ketchum has
been requesting answers to these questions for nearly three years and they have yet to be addressed by Idaho
Power.
The City of Ketchum is writing to request that the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) require Idaho Power
Company (IPCO) to conduct an independent cost-benefit analysis of energy reliability solutions for the Wood
River Valley in Blaine County prior to approval of the proposed redundant transmission line. Ketchum has
concerns that the line as proposed may not be the optimal use of ratepayer resources to meet reliability needs.
Ketchum first asked IPCO in December 2013 to provide an independent cost-benefit and reliability analysis of
the redundant transmission line versus local alternatives. This initial request was ignored and Ketchum has asked
for this repeatedly over the past three years, yet has not received this analysis. Other isolated communities have
found that local, distributed energy resources (generation, storage, islandable micro grids, etc.) to be a better
alternative to new transmission. Ketchum believes that an independent analysis of alternatives is required to
ensure the best use of scarce ratepayer resources. Local alternatives also have the potential to address the
economic and environmental resilience risks posed by the current energy system.
The City also requests consideration of redundant distribution vs. transmission. Redundant distribution allows
for local generation to integrate into the grid north of the Hailey substation and move directly north, whereas
redundant transmission does not: it requires the power to integrate into the existing distribution, move south
to the Hailey substation, and then come north on the transmission line. This reduces the reliability benefits of
the redundant line as well as its potential role in contributing to a local micro grid for the north valley.
Based upon the concerns and opportunities outlined in the attached Appendix A, the City of Ketchum is
request1ng that the Commission require Idaho Power to conduct an independent cost-benefit and reliability
analysis of alternatives to a redundant transmission line. Appendix Bis a potential proposal for such an analysis,
offered by NRG, a qualified third party with direct DER experience in multiple comparable locations.
480 East Ave. N. * P.O. Box 2315 * Ketchum, ID 83340 * main [phone] * fax [phone]
facebook.com/CityofKetchum * twitter.com/Ketchum_ldaho * www.ketchumidaho.org
Thank you for your consideration of the City of Ketchum's request. The City seeks to bring the greatest public
benefit of the use of ratepayer resources now and into the future and believes that the requested independent
analysis is required to do so.
Sincerely,
Mayor Nina Jonas
cc: Ketchum Energy Advisory Committee (KEAC)
Jeff Maffuccio, Facility Siting Coordinator, Idaho Power Company
City of Ketchum, 10/4/16, Page 2 of 2
Outage History
The Wood River Valley has experienced multiple power outages including three significant
unplanned outages in the past seven years including:
• One in August 2014 due to lightning which took out the single transmission line traveling
north from the Hailey substation to power the cities of Ketchum and Sun Valley and the
north county and lasted approximately 2 hours; and
• Two failures of both of the two transmission lines (King and Silver) leading to the Hailey
substation in the southern Wood River Valley. One was in June 2016 due to lightning
and the worst was the 23-hour Christmas Eve 2009 outage was caused by freezing rain.
The second largest fire in the country in 2013 led to mandatory evacuations and direct losses
alone of $40M with great threat to the single transmission line. IPCO is proposing a second
transmission line which has the potential to improve reliability on a local basis, but will not
address the near-term risks facing the old Silver and King lines from the south, nor will it
address the community's environmental or economic resilience risks.
Local Priorities
Blaine County has significant renewable energy resources in solar, geothermal, hydroelectric as
well as potentially biomass from dead trees killed by beetles (currently potentially fuel for fires).
These resources have just begun to be tapped to benefit local energy resilience and the local
economy. As a result of recent dramatic reductions in solar costs as well as widespread
community education, 2016 will see at least five times the solar installed in 2015. In cooperation
with the local community, Idaho's National Energy Laboratory is conducting an assessment of
the county's geothermal energy resources, which may be able to contribute significantly to both
power generation as well as reducing the need for the grid heating needs on the grid.
Ketchum's Comprehensive Plan strongly supports the development of alternative energy and
sustainable development practices. In addition, in March of 2015, Ketchum passed aggressive
city-wide energy conservation goals to be achieved by 2030:
• 50% per capita energy reduction
• 50% local generation
• 75% GHG reduction
• 100% renewable energy
An alternative approach to the redundant transmission line has the potential to tap into these
local resources and build a more reliable electricity grid for the community.
Potential Alternatives
Utilities are increasingly turning to distributed energy resources (DER) and microgrids to provide
improved reliability, including: Central Hudson Gas & Electric, Duke Energy, DTE Energy Co., San
Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) and Edison lnternational's Southern California Edison. DER and
microgrids benefit both urban areas and rural areas: 80-90 percent of grid failures start at the
distribution level, costing the U.S. economy $336 billion between 2003 and 2012. Microgrids
address these outages. Isolated communities facing expensive grid transmission for redundancy
or increased capacity are also turning to DER and microgrids. working with their utilities to gain
regulatory approval of superior local solutions in generation, storage and distribution.
For instance, like the northern Wood River Valley, Borrego Springs, California also relies on a
single transmission line. The utility, SDG&E, said that as a result of wildfires, they were going to
"rethink the way we served communities such as Borrego Springs." To address resilience needs,
the utility built a renewable energy microgrid using local power generation, energy storage, and
automated switching to create a more resilient local grid. The microgrid is connected to the grid,
but can disconnect from it and function independently during emergencies, supplying electricity
to the local community through its onsite resources. The utility, San Diego Gas & Electric, used
the microgrid in 2015 to power the community while it conducted needed transmission line
repairs. (See more at:
http://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/30_SDGE_Borrego_Springs_Microgrid.pdf).
Distributed energy microgrids are growing, with GTM Research predicting microgrid capacity
more than doubling by 2020, evolving from largely diesel generation to renewable energy
generation. In addition, low-income communities turning to distributed generation microgrid
solutions for resilience include:
• Hunters Point Community Microgrid, San Francisco, CA
• Long Island Community Microgrid, East Hampton, NY
Appendix B:
NRG Proposal to conduct an independent cost-benefit analysis on the proposed
redundant transmission line
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Proposal for Techno-Economic Analysis of
Resiliency Alternatives
Submitted to:
City of Ketchum, Idaho
September 8, 2016
Submitted to:
Aimee Christensen
Ketchum Energy Advisory Committee
[e-mail]
Submitted by:
NRG
Lynda Clemmons
Vice President
1201 Fannin Street
Houston, TX 77002
713.537.5337
lynda [e-mail]
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September 8, 2016
Aimee Christensen, Ketchum Energy Advisory Committee
NRG
1201 Fannin Street
Houston, TX 77002
Re: Proposal for Resiliency and Sustainable Energy Strategy and Feasibility Study
Dear Ms. Christensen:
You may recall that we spoke some years back about Ketchum's reliability challenges. On
behalf of NRG Energy, Inc. we are pleased to reestablish our relationship with Ketchum and
continue the impressive work that has already been achieved towards making Ketchum a
carbon neutral city. The attached proposal is for Techno-Economic Analysis of Resiliency
Alternatives, including indicative cost-benefit analysis, to the proposed transmission line.
NRG and its affiliates under NRG Energy, Inc. comprise the largest deregulated retail electric
provider and the largest competitive power generator in the nation. NRG's retail and
wholesale portfolio, which encompasses renewable and conventional generation, provides
Ketchum with access to unparalleled service capabilities, diverse product knowledge and an
understanding of what it means to plan for the future.
NRG's experience with public private partnerships and working locally gives us sensitivity to
the importance of stakeholder engagement. We want to work with the greater Ketchum
community to conduct a techno-economic analysis of resiliency alternatives to the proposed
transmission line.
A commitment to sustainability and real world experience make NRG the best possible choice
to provide an indicative cost-benefit for viable technologies to address Ketchum's resiliency
needs. Our dedicated experts bring a breadth and depth of experience we believe
differentiates us from others and ensures Ketchum meets its energy goals.
At NRG we have been thinking about the right way to give our communities the power to
choose the power they use. Ketchum is to be commended for already making a choice for a
better future . Before you read the following proposal, I invite you to watch this short video
http://itson.nrq.com/the-power-behind-the-pluq/.
If you have any questions regarding this response, please do not hesitate to contact me at
713.537.5337 or via email at [e-mail].
NRG looks forward to reengaging Ketchum to conduct a techno-economic analysis to assess
the feasibility of alternatives to the proposed transmission development while also advancing
Ketchum's carbon reduction goals.
Sincerely,
h·~L>"fl;
Lynda Clemmons, Vice President, NRG Sustainable Products
Proposal for Techno-Economic Analysis of Resiliency Alternatives for City of Ketchum, Idaho
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HRG. «rvtstor, for a sustainable ene,gyfuhft drives ewrytt*1g
we do. Our goals to protect the environment and reduce our carbon
footprint inform and strengthen our efforts to gro.v as a company.
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Proposal for Techno-Economic Analysis of Resiliency Alternatives for City of Ketchum, Idaho
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
STRATEGY AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN ............................................................... 2
Conducting a Techno-Economic Feasibility Analysis ................................................................................................. 2
Consulting Overview .................................................................................................................................................... 2
Techno-Economic Feasibility Study ............................................................................................................................ 2
Community Stakeholder Engagement Platform ......................................................................................................... 3
Technologies and Services Overview: Engineering the Best Fit ................................................................................ 4
Solar ............................................................................................................................................................................. 4
CHP and Backup Generation ...................................................................................................................................... 4
Energy Storage ............................................................................................................................................................. 5
Implementation Strategy and Timeline ...................................................................................................................... 6
Financial and Budgetary Recommendations ............................................................................................................. 7
NRG BACKGROUND ................................................................................................. 8
Energy Company of the 21st Century .......................................................................................................................... 8
Sustainability Vision .................................................................................................................................................... 9
Meet the Team ............................................................................................................................................................. 9
APPENDIX A -STRATEGIC ADVISORY EXPERIENCE ............................................. 14
APPENDIX B -COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT .......................................................... 18
Global GMng .............................................................................................................................................................. 18
Community and Economic Development at our Core .............................................................................................. 18
Public-Private Partnerships ....................................................................................................................................... 19
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NRG + Ketchum
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As Ketchum explores alternatives to a new 138kV transmission line intended to improve
reliability, it is our hope that we would be able to apply our experience to Ketchum by
conducting a techno-economic analysis grounded in our experience as the nation's third
largest sustainable energy company. Pursuant to this, NRG will apply a technology agnostic
approach to determine the most economically and environmentally effective method to
achieve the city's resiliency and sustainability goals. The analysis will include an exhaustive
review of various technologies to achieve resiliency, filtered through the lens of Ketchum's
sustainability goals.
NRG understands the value of partnering with local government for a more sustainable
future. NRG has collaborated with the City of Houston to achieve its energy goals. Named
number one in the U.S. EPA's Top 30 Local Government list and number six on the National
Top 100 list of the largest green power users from the Green Power Partnership, the City
uses nearly 1 billion kWh of green power annually, representing over 75% of its total power
needs. The City has a 30-MW solar PPA with NRG for municipal opera_tions, and the City
recently signed an agreement with NRG subsidiary Reliant to increase its purchase of Green­
e certified renewable energy certificates, making the City the largest municipal purchaser of
renewable power in the nation. NRG also installed the first EV charging stations on City sites
in 2009 and is working with the City to develop the public EV infrastructure for Houston.
In establishing a partnership with Ketchum, NRG would like to have the same high level of
involvement and integration. Through careful evaluation of opportunities, we will determine
new, mutually beneficial ways to integrate with some of the city's upcoming initiatives. A
continued innovative, thoughtful approach will be critical if Ketchum is to take advantage of
opportunities to achieve carbon neutrality, and we look forward to working together to get
there.
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Proposal for Techno-Economic Analysis of Resiliency Alternatives for City of Ketchum, Idaho
Strategy & Implementation Plan
Strategy and Implementation Plan
Conducting a Techno-Economic Feasibility Analysis
Consulting Overview
Over the last several years, NRG has worked with a number of strategic partners
representing numerous industries to shape and develop roadmaps and action plans
designed to help partners achieve their individual environmental sustainability, carbon
reduction, and energy resiliency goals. From advising global consumer packaged goods
company Unilever on ways to achieve carbon neutrality across its North American portfolio
of sites by 2025, to working with Kaiser Permanente to install 70 MW of onsite solar across
its California portfolio of facilities, and assisting Arizona State University in the development
of an energy resiliency and implementation plan for many of its critical load research
facilities, NRG has learned through experience methods of best practice for helping partners
achieve their published sustainability objectives.
In conducting the techno-economic analysis to assess cost-benefit feasibility for Ketchum,
NRG would draw from its experience with the aforementioned partners (and many others)
to develop a plan that would best fit the needs of Ketchum. As a trusted partner, NRG would
work with Ketchum to:
• Leverage NRG's energy industry expertise to conduct a techno-economic cost­
benefit feasibility analysis to achieve resiliency and sustainable energy goals
• Deliver indicative pricing to compare with planned transmission line economics
• Develop an integrated stakeholder engagement platform to draw upon
community involvement and participation.
Techno-Economic Feasibility Study
NRG will take a three-phased approach to developing Ketchum's cost-benefit analysis as
follows:
Discovery (1 week)
1. Engage key Ketchum stakeholders to define business objectives, prioritize goals, and
identify key performance indicators.
2. Develop an energy profile for Ketchum by examining current load, distributed
generation composition, energy and resiliency requirements.
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Proposal for Techno-Economic Analysis of Resiliency Alternatives for City of Ketchum, Idaho
Strategy & Implementation Plan
Analysis (2 weeks)
3. Assess opportunities for on-site and off-site sustainable energy projects and load
optimization by completir:ig a rigorous evaluation across the following categories:
a. Commercial : Evaluate spark spread and delivered energy historical pricing to
inform economic evaluation.
b. Sustainability: Review current sustainability strategy and assess how proposed
projects would impact goals.
c. Technology: Examine innovative energy technologies through the lens of
community needs, commercial feasibility, and resiliency.
Recommendation (1 week)
4. Present a techno-economic cost-benefit analysis that includes a sourcing strategy
with a prioritized development approach. The analysis will incorporate metrics for
economic and environmental return on investment.
Community Stakeholder Engagement Platform
If one person can change the world, imagine what we can all do together ...
Our plan calls for engaging Ketchum stakeholders during all phases of the partnership-from
strategy development to implementation. We will do so by emphasizing:
1. Transparency: NRG will disclose information about project costs, materials, and
sustainability impacts through our open book process.
2. Dialogue: NRG will establish multiple, two-way mechanisms for incorporating
stakeholder input and feedback.
3. Direct Participation: NRG will create opportunities for community members to
participate in the development and implementation of the strategy.
Specific opportunities to engage stakeholders in the planning and decision-making process
will be determined in consultation with Ketchum and the community, and may include:
• Community Conversations: NRG engages local communities in conversations for
every major project we implement.
• Utility Engagement: NRG's experience in implementing bold projects with utilities
across the nation gives us the expertise to ensure smooth implementation of the
plan.
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Strategy & Implementation Plan
Technologies and Services Overview: Engineering the Best Fit
A large part of NRG's efforts to develop an effective cost-benefit analysis will involve an
assessment of all viable sustainable energy technologies and solutions that may help
Ketchum achieve its goals.
Once selected as Ketchum's partner to carry out the feasibility study, NRG would work with
Ketchum to obtain any necessary specific energy consumption and physical infrastructure
data in order to make more informed recommendations regarding optimal system locations,
resiliency implications of viable technologies, as well as any major technical barriers and
constraints that may impact solution implementation. Nonetheless, the following sections of
this document will outline the preliminary technologies NRG will evaluate to assess whether
the techno-economic profiles maybe good fits for Ketchum's resiliency and carbon reduction
objectives.
Solar
NRG is prepared to work with Ketchum to explore the potential for onsite and offsite solar
capacity. NRG's experience in the energy industry is unparalleled. As one of the United
States' largest generators and retail electricity providers, NRG has unmatched insight into
the energy sector. In developing a techno-economic study for Ketchum, we will leverage the
same in-house experts that enable NRG to thrive as the largest independent power producer
in the United States.
CHP and Backup Generation
As a result of years of experience building, operating, and maintaining a variety onsite
reliability energy generation solutions, NRG is well positioned to advise Ketchum with
respect to the total potential for an integrated suite of sustainable, resilient onsite energy
technologies including CHP applications, backup generation, fuel cell technology, and waste
heat recovery applications. Our Distributed Generation advisory platform combines the
expertise of capabilities of two subgroups within our organization: Reliability Solutions, and
NRG Thermal, with the latter being the company's core center of expertise for district
energy and CHP systems.
If, after strategic review of the energy usage data across Ketchum's portfolio, NRG finds
that there is viable potential for any additional cogeneration or backup generation
capability, NRG will work with Ketchum to identify the appropriate technology and evaluate
the relative costs and benefits of implementation.
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Strategy & Implementation Plan
Energy Storage
To date, NRG has within our portfolio operational microgrid solutions that incorporate not
only multiple generation and battery/thermal storage technologies, but also modular
integrated control systems that are used to optimize storage technology performance.
Additionally, we have worked to develop business partnerships with battery/thermal storage
technology companies such as Ice Energy, TenK Solar, and Tesla to deliver reliable and
innovative storage solutions in diverse energy markets across the United States.
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NRG's Station A and Little House Microgrid
NRG sees the growing battery storage market as an area of high potential, and in working
with Ketchum, we would be comm itted to exploring ways that energy storage applications
could be used to address Ketchum's carbon reduction and reliability objectives.
After working with Ketchum stakeholders to assess the ways that a storage application may
impact infrastructure and community goals with respect to carbon reduction and resiliency,
NRG would work with Ketchum to evaluate the costs of a range of electrical and thermal
storage technologies against the potential benefits, including demand -charge management,
energy price arbitrage, and reliability and power quality. Should a configuration yield
benefits to Ketchum, NRG will develop a technical and commercial proposal.
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Strategy & Implementation Plan
Implementation Strategy and Timeline
The chart below outlines our implementation and strategy timeline for the first phase of a
techno-economic cost-benefit engagement with Ketchum.
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Strategy & Implementation Plan
Financial and Budgetary Recommendations
NRG values our relationship with Ketchum and we seek to work with you in a way that
builds trust and delivers value for both parties.
Our proposed fee structure for the development of Techno-Economic Cost-Benefit Analysis
is as follows:
Phase I: $30,000 as a flat retainer.
We have built our fees estimate on the following assumptions and considerations:
• It is our hope that this process will be collaborative -to that end, we ask that you
identify a project sponsor to support the engagement. The sponsor would also review
key deliverables in a timely manner. Sponsor will:
• Be responsible for all management functions and decisions relating to the
engagement.
• For in-scope metrics, enable access to the data owners and stakeholders for
information and documentation in the data gathering and reporting processes
relevant to those metrics and locations.
• Project analyst: access to your data typically requires a designated project analyst
who would compile data requests from the relevant sources (e.g. from finance,
payroll, facilities, operations); this data will be timely, accurate, and complete.
• If necessary, discuss and mutually agree on additional scope and fees.
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NRG Background
NRG Background
Energy Company of the 21st Century
NRG Energy, Inc. (''NRG") (NYSE:NRG), founded in 1989, is a Fortune 200 energy company
with dual headquarters in Princeton, New Jersey and Houston, Texas. As the largest
Independent Power Producer ("IPP") in the United States, NRG has a net generating
capacity of approximately 50,000 MW, measured in alternating current ("MWAC"), and
representing a diversified mix of fuel sources, generation technology, output configuration
and geographical locations.
In addition to power production, NRG's wholesale operations trade energy, capacity and
related products, and transact in and trade fuel and transportation services. NRG is one of
the nation's largest electricity retailers, serving nearly 3 million residential, commercial, and
industrial customers in competitive energy supply markets. NRG is also one of the nation's
largest renewable generation owners and developers with more than 4,500 MWAC of
renewable capacity in operation and/or under management. The company is also building
the nation's first privately-funded electric vehicle charging infrastructure through its wholly­
owned subsidiary NRG EVgo.
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* nrg. Our strength In numbers
A
Our generation capacity can support nearly
1/3 of the US population
Largest
Independent power
producer in U.S.
,.early 3,QQQ,QQQ
recurnng re tail customers
3rd largest
renewable generation
company in the U.S.
$3 billion+
Invested on env,ronmertal improvements
S&P 500 Index
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NRG Background
Sustainability Vision
While the NRG sustainability vision is broad, bold and transformational, it's also simple and
fully embedded into our fundamental business strategy. At NRG, it our aim to grow and
diversify our businesses while dramatically reducing our carbon footprint. We are deeply
committed to helping create a truly sustainable energy future in the long term without
sacrificing consumer satisfaction or shareholder value in the process.
This means providing affordable, safe, clean and reliable energy that is produced in ways
that liberate -not limit -our options as businesses, consumers and citizens. At NRG, we
believe sustainable energy:
• Is compatible with healthy ecosystems and communities.
• Delivers a net positive impact for NRG.
• Can be made affordable, reliable and safe for our customers.
• Supports maximum value creation and growth for customers, shareholders,
employees, suppliers, communities and other stakeholders.
Together, we're building a sustainable energy future -not just for ourselves, but for our
children, grandchildren, and their children and grandchildren. To make this future a reality,
we will leverage an increasingly diverse suite of energy sources, empower consumers with
real choices and value, and streamline usage by developing and implementing cutting-edge
efficiency and convenient demand-response initiatives
Meet the Team
Lynda Clemmons
Vice President, Sustainable Products
Clemmons is a Vice President in NRG Energy's Business Solutions
group. Through key strategic alliances, she is working to create a
· shift to renewable energy systems that will transform us from a
fossil fuel economy to a more sustainable one. She has been at
NRG since 2012, incorporating all of the commercial products and
services that enable Fortune 250 companies to achieve their
sustainability goals.
Clemmons started her career as an analyst in an investment bank.
She then spent eight years at Enron where she started the weather derivatives business as
well as the 502 and NOX emissions trading desk. In 2000, Lynda co-founded and was COO
of XL Weather and Energy (a division of XL Capital Ltd), a trading and insurance company
based in Connecticut. She also cofounded and was the former President of the Weather Risk
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NRG Background
Management Association. She holds BA degrees in History and French from Southern
Methodist University and a Master of Finance from Tulane University.
Emerson Halstead
Manager, Sustainable Energy Advisory
Emerson Halstead serves as Presidential Fellow for NRG Energy Inc.,
where he provides strategic support to growth businesses and the
Office of the CEO. In this role, he develops financial models, risk
assessments, and other analytical tools to inform strategic decision
making. Prior to this role, Emerson was a Strategy and Analytics
Analyst for NRG Business Solutions. In this role, he built and
managed the commodity pricing model for commercial and industrial
delivered power, and provided geospacial and emerging technology
analytics for commercial-scale renewable energy. Emerson began his
career in the NGO sector where he worked internationally and
domestically on public health issues. He earned a bachelor of science degree in
communications from The University of Texas at Austin and a master's degree in business
administration, with a focus on finance, from Indiana University.
Brian Reilly
Director, Business Development Renewables
Mr. Reilly has more than eleven years of energy project
development and transaction experience. He is responsible for
renewable energy development with Fortune 500 companies, off­
grid renewable energy projects for the mining industry, and
international development strategy in emerging markets. Through
the origination and direction of multinational partnerships, he is
able to align the interests of NRG Renew and its customer to
realize long-term sustainable goals through ground-breaking
renewable energy deployments. Prior to joining NRG, Reilly
operated a proprietorship, Origen Consulting, where he performed portfolio valuation for a
top-tier private equity firm on wind energy project acquisitions totaling $400 million, as well
as developed market origination strategies for leading solar companies. He has also helped
build an enhanced oil recovery company, C12 Energy, and managed assessment, land
acquisition, and development efforts in the western U.S. Previously, Reilly originated and
developed a portfolio of 1,600 MW of wind projects throughout the intermountain west on
behalf of private investors and completed the portfolio sale of these assets. He holds a BA in
Physics from Middlebury College, where he completed his senior thesis on a wind energy
project for the College.
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NRG Background
Alan Cordova
Manager, Business Development
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JI' '~ .. ·.·.
·#tt''' . . , .,,
Alan Cordova is a Business Development Manager with the dGen
(Distributed Generation) group of NRG Energy. He coordinates
customer engagement, proposal development and project
development for commercial/industrial-scale combined heat and
power (CHP), fuel cell, energy storage and microgrid installations.
He previously worked for the independent power producer EDP
Renewables North America, the solar energy developers Northlight
Power and Garden Solar, as well as the offshore wind developer BlueWater Wind. He earned
an MBA from Columbia Business School and a BA in Political Science & Astronomy from
Williams College.
Greg Kandankulam
Specialist, Sustainability
Greg Kandankulam is a Sustainability Specialist with NRG. He has
15 years' experience in strategic analysis, financial modeling and
project management with a sustainability focus. Mr. Kandankulam
has a strong background in power plant operations, smart grid
assets and utility regulatory environments. He is currently creating
a framework for managing NRG's carbon reduction strategy with
respect to growing a renewable portfolio and fossil fleet asset
management. Within this context he is collaborating with the World
Resource Institute on a GHG standard for avoided emissions within
the energy industry.
Greg holds an MBA from Presidio Graduate School in Sustainable
Management and a BSAST in Nuclear Engineering from Thomas
Edison State College. Mr. Kandankulam has previously held positions as a Program Manager
of a Public-Private Partnership for the Dutch government, based on sustainable energy
projects, and as a chief nuclear mechanical operator in the U.S. Navy for six years. He also
serves as a Sustainability Commissioner for the City of Sausalito in California.
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Proposal for Techno-Economic Analysis of Resiliency Alternatives for City of Ketchum, Idaho
NRG Background
Erik Urosa
Senior Analyst, Business Development
Nekabari L. Goka
Erik supports NRG's Distributed Generation team in the sales
process, leads engineering and financial analysis, and performs due
diligence tasks during contract negotiations and project closings.
Prior to NRG, Mr. Urosa spent time in SunEdison's Project Finance
and O&M teams through a rotational program, held internship
positions at Citigroup and TerraCycle, and performed extensive
engineering research at his alma mater. He holds a B.S. in Chemical
Engineering from Yale University.
Analyst, Business Development
Nekabari is an analyst with NRG's Business Solutions group,
providing business development operations and policy support for
large commercial and industrial clients seeking to achieve their
overall carbon reduction goals through the use of renewable energy
and demand management technologies. Prior to joining NRG in
2014, Nekabari worked in business development for Sustainable
Development Concepts Inc., where he led the company's efforts to
provide political and economic advisory services to clients seeking
to develop greenfield renewable and alternative energy projects in
the U.S., Ghana, and Mexico. A native of Atlanta, Nekabari began his career as a member of
the Georgia Department of Economic Development's Global Commerce Division, working
with U.S. agricultural industry clients to develop export and international trade strategies for
business expansion in the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
Nekabari holds a Masters of Science in International Affairs from The Georgia Institute of
Technology with research focuses in international trade and energy policy, as well as science
and technology for development. Additionally, he holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in both
Economics and International affairs from The University of Georgia. An active participant in
Houston community affairs, Nekabari serves as a member of the International Investment
and Trade Committee of the Greater Houston Partnership, a community based economic
development organization that engages Houston stakeholders in efforts to promote regional
economic prosperity.
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Proposal for Techno-Economic Analysis of Resiliency Alternatives for City of Ketchum, Idaho
NRG Background
Laura Avant
Analyst, Market Research
Laurel Peacock
Laura is a Market Research Analyst at NRG. She is part of a multi­
disciplinary analytics team specializing in C&I transactions and
building the foundation for strategic partnerships. Laura's focus is on
competitive intelligence across a wide range of sectors including
energy, industrials, business services and renewables.
Prior to joining NRG Laura worked in the marketing and
communication field as a brand strategist for the oil & gas and
petrochemical industries; bringing two new sustainable products to
market and leading a company-wide rebranding effort. Laura
graduated from Arizona State University with a B.A. in
Sustainability.
Senior Manager, Sustainability
Laurel is a Senior Manager of Sustainability for NRG Energy, a
company at the forefront of changing how people think about and
use energy. Laurel supports the Chief Sustainability Officer in
strategy creation, executive engagement and corporate
communications. In this role, she also leads all voluntary
sustainability reporting processes to foster industry leadership and
create shareholder value during NRG's transformation into the
nation's leading provider of reliable, clean, sustainable energy.
Prior to NRG, Laurel spent time as a consultant at Blu Skye, a
boutique sustainability strategy and management consulting firm in
San Francisco. There she worked with multiple clients in consumer
product goods, manufacturing, health and agriculture industries.
The projects ranged from supply chain strategy to systems thinking to employee
engagement. Before Blu Skye, she was in marketing and public relations for a multinational
winery in Napa Valley where she championed energy and packaging efficiency projects and
organic viticulture practices. Laurel earned an MBA from San Francisco State University with
an emphasis in Sustainable Business and a BA from Claremont McKenna College. She
currently resides in Oakland and travels with an extension cord in her trunk so she can plug
her electric vehicle in wherever the road may take her.
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Proposal for Techno-Economic Analysis of Resiliency Alternatives for City of Ketchum, Idaho
Appendix A -Strategic Advisory Experience
Appendix A -Strategic Advisory Experience
NRG brings the financial stability of a Fortune 200 company and the experience of a multi­
faceted energy company (including wholesale generation, demand response, and retail
businesses), enabling it to deliver a unique and comprehensive set of solutions to meet
Ketchum's needs.
Embracing new and revolutionary technologies like solar, wind and fuel cells and offering
solutions like demand response and energy conservation technologies that help meet grid
demand in less carbon-intensive and more innovative ways, NRG has collaborated with
other likeminded customers such as Unilever, MGM Resorts International, Starwood Hotels &
Resorts and Kaiser Permanente to achieve clean energy solutions.
Unilever
NRG has partnered with Unilever to map out and provide onsite and offsite able generation
that will result in 100% clean energy for
all Unilever, U.S. sites by 2025. This
revolutionary collaboration demonstrates
NRG's passion for tackling large-scale
challenges with various solutions. The
partnership aligns with Unilever's
Sustainable Living Plan -its blueprint
for sustainable growth which aims to
"Our transformational partnership with NRG to
move all of our U.S. operations to 100 percent able
energy will make our business more resilient,
sustainable, and profitable."
Kees Kruythoff
President, Unilever North America
double the size of its business while reducing the company's environmental footprint and
increasing its positive social impact-with NRG's sustainability and business goals.
Though Unilever already purchases 100% of its electricity from able sources, its relationship
with NRG will enable alternative energy utilization through new projects and technologies
that had not previously been accessible to them. These technologies will be scalable and
transferable to other industry sectors, allowing NRG to replicate efforts to affect even more
change.
Learn more below:
http: //investors. nrq .com/phoenix.zhtml?c= 121544&p=i rol -newsArticle&ID= 1928191
Kaiser Permanente
Through a partnership with NRG, Kaiser will be able to achieve its goal of using 30% power
from renewable sources. Solar arrays will provide as much as much as 70 MW of power at
nearly 170 sites in California, reducing Kaiser's greenhouse gas emissions well beyond their
goals. It will also help Kaiser realize its vision of creating healthier lives for its patients and
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Proposal for Techno-Economic Analysis of Resiliency Alternatives for City of Ketchum, Idaho
Appendix A -Strategic Advisory Experience
their surrounding communities. NRG is also planning to install electric vehicle ("EV")
charging stations at 40 Kaiser locations, helping to promote cleaner air and more
environmentally friendly transportation. Utilizing on-site solar from NRG, Kaiser will achieve
the top ranking of on-site installed solar capacity among U.S. healthcare companies. NRG
also plans to implement demand response, microgrid and energy efficiency solutions for
Kaiser's sites.
NRG's partnership is helping Kaiser realize:
A 17% utility load reduction;
An estimated $159 million in savings; and
1.4 million metric tons of CO2 avoided.
Learn more below:
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=121544&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=2017705
Princeton Hospital
NRG Energy Center Princeton
NRG Thermal was selected to finance, build, own, operate and maintain the Central Utility
Plant ("CUP") complex for this new 636,000 sq. ft. medical center in Plainsboro, NJ. NRG's
study results indicated significant economic benefit to University Medical Center .of Princeton
at Plainsboro ("UMCPP") from the addition of a 4.6 MW combustion turbine CHP project and
a 1.1 million gallon Thermal Energy Storage ("TES") tank for off-peak production of chilled
water.
The system employs state of the art "wire to water" electronic control technology for
efficient control of variable frequency drives on all electric rotating equipment and a
proprietary economic dispatch software system for electricity and chilled water generation.
This dispatch system also facilitates purchases from, and sale of electricity to, the grid to
enhance project economics. A 13-year, full requirements contract to provide all of the
hospital's electricity, steam and chilled water was executed between the Hospital and NRG.
At the end of the contract term the Hospital can either purchase the assets from NRG at fair
market value or it can negotiate a contract extension with NRG. The project also
participates in the PJM Demand Response Program.
The project went commercial the first week in January 2012 ahead of schedule and on
budget.
The facility's energy assets include:
• CHP -A 4.6 MW combined heat and power (CHP) plant supplying 100% of heating
and cooling needs.
• Thermal Energy -The recovered thermal energy is used to heat and cool the
medical center, and the steam is also used for sterilization.
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Proposal for Techno-Economic Analysis of Resiliency Alternatives for City of Ketchum, Idaho
Appendix A -Strategic Advisory Experience
• Solar -Covered parking lot solar structures produce energy equivalent to what 30
average sized single family homes would use. The project also provides shaded
parking for employees and visitors in addition to providing electricity to the hospital.
NRG's solution cuts energy bills dramatically, reduces emissions and increases reliability.
The solution provides reliability with multiple levels of protection, including the ability to
draw power from the PJM power grid if needed. UMCPP's energy and sustainable features
have resulted in a 50% decrease in carbon footprint and a 20% decrease in energy costs.
NRG continues to provide on-going operations and maintenance services for UMCPP.
.... 4 .6MW natural gas plant
supphes 100% of heating &
cooling needs and most of
the electrical needs
Chillers
········· ···l
,, .........
Three I ,000 ton
electric chillers
and one 700 ton
absorption chiller
provide chilled
water
Thermal Storage .
1 7 M gallon chilled
water storage ror
cooling the hosp,ta,
Solar
71 I\
-----
700kW solar array
provides e,ectnc1Ly,
and re uces carbon
em,ssons
Proprietary and Confidential
·····
····•·
eVgo
.... ·····•·· ,,
············
Two 30 amp electric
vehicle charging
stations
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Backup Generation
With the gnd down, the
3 back up generators can
support the hospitals
essential power needs
Grid
Can draw power
from or export to the
PJM power gnd
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Proposal for Techno-Economic Analysis of Resiliency Alternatives for City of Ketchum, Idaho
Appendix A -Strategic Advisory Experience
Arizona State University
Sun Devil Energy Center/ ASU Tempe Campus
Excelling at one of the largest universities in the nation means doing your homework,
thinking creatively and being ahead of the curve. And by partnering with NRG, that's exactly
what ASU has done to set itself apart and better serve its students. Generating more than
24.1 MWl of electricity from solar power today, with plans for carbon neutrality by 2025,
ASU is a leader in integrating sustainable energy solutions into campus life.
At ASU's Tempe campus, the NRG PowerParasol® parking structure generates more than 2
MW of peak power, while also provide shade from the blazing desert sun for 800 parking
spaces adjacent to Sun Devil Stadium and Wells Fargo Arena. And the PowerParasol ® is just
one of 89 projects currently online at ASU. When campus-wide solar renovation is complete
in 2014, there will be 31 installations online from NRG.
In addition to solar, NRG has also partnered with ASU to serve 101 university buildings
(totaling 8. 7 million square feet) with steam and chilled water generated and fed into the
campus district energy system from the Sun Devil Energy Center. Generated electricity
serves four specialty research facilities from the plant's CHP equipment.
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Proposal for Techno-Economic Analysis of Resiliency Alternatives for City of Ketchum, Idaho
Appendix B -Community Involvement
Appendix B -Community Involvement
Global Giving
Community and Economic Development at our Core
As part of our commitment to development of the communities whom we serve, NRG's
Office of Global Giving identifies nonprofit organizations and supports community programs
and initiatives consistent with our four focus areas: community and economic development,
education, environment and human welfare.
Home Front
NRG, has teamed up with Homefront, a nationally recognized organization that has fought
and is succeeding in helping end the cycle of poverty among the homeless in Mercer
County, NJ, for over two decades. NRG, provided funding to support a recycling program of
gently used furniture and appliances.
-Green Mountain Energy Sun Club®
NRG joined with the Green Mountain Energy Sun Club to donate a 280-panel solar
installation to the Houston Food Bank. The installation not only reduces energy costs and
decreases the carbon footprint of the largest food bank in the country, but through those
cost savings provides another two meals per hour or 17,000 meals per year. Through crowd
funding (Green Mountain Energy, its customers, employees and other supporters), the Sun
Club builds and promotes solar power while helping nonprofit organizations with a socially
responsible focus reduce their electricity costs. Since being founded in 2002, the Sun Club
has provided more than 900 kW of solar power through 75 unique projects supporting more
than 70 nonprofit organizations.
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Appendix B -Community Involvement
PinnacleHealth
NRG provided a $25,000 grant to the nonprofit PinnacleHealth Harrisburg Hospital in
Harrisburg, PA, to establish a clinical care center at the Ortenzio Cancer Center. Learning
that 50 percent of its high-risk cancer patients have limited or no family support,
the NRG grant will fund a training program for hospital staff to provide the support and
nurturing needed by the patients and families experiencing the difficulties of terminal
illness. Caregivers are prepared to impart clinical knowledge, healing therapeutics and hope.
GRID Alternatives
Through an NRG grant to support the Solar Affordable Housing Program, GRID Alternatives
trained and led teams of NRG employee volunteers as they installed solar panels on the
homes of some low-income families, many of whom were still recovering from the
devastation of Hurricane Sandy. While eliminating greenhouse gas emissions, these projects
provide residents the benefit of long-term electricity savings.
Public-Private Partnerships
Our public partnership programs range in variety from nature preservation efforts to
delivering meals to those in need. NRG makes great efforts in each of the communities we
serve to increase community involvement and preserve surroundings. As we operate in
communities across the country, NRG projects and programs are specific to the region and
community they serve.
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Proposal for Tech no-Economic Analysis of Resiliency Alternatives for City of Ketchum, Idaho
Appendix B -Community Involvement
East Region
NRG has become involved in and contributed towards a great many efforts ranging from
wildlife preservation to community charity organizations. Each region has specific areas and
organizations that NRG has become involved with to make a difference in each community.
At several New York plants, including Arthur Kill, Astoria and Dunkirk, NRG has partnered
with and donated funds to environmental projects such as restoring public spaces on Staten
Island and conducting environmental studies in the Long Island Sound. Also in New York,
the Oswego plant participates in the Soles4Souls program, which collects new and slightly
used shoes for victims of natural disasters or people who live in extreme poverty. The
Dunkirk and Huntley plants partnered with the Niagara Frontier Section of the Air and Waste
Management Association to sponsor Envirun 2014, a SK run in honor of Earth Day. Proceeds
support local environmental programs and education.
In Massachusetts, the Canal Generating Plant bought biodegradable trash bags to be used
over the summer of 2014 during events celebrating the 375th anniversary of the city of
Sandwich.
NRG is a lead sponsor ($10,000 level) of the annual Source to Sea cleanup project, a
massive two-day event that spans four states and covers 138 miles of Connecticut River
shoreline. As part of the 2014 event, a team of NRG employees spent a workday cleaning
up a few thousand feet of shoreline on Dart Island State Park. Also in Connecticut, Devon
Station donated $2,000 to Earthplace's Harbor Watch water quality monitoring program, a
community-based environmental education program that trains and engages volunteers,
many of them high school and college students, in the science of water quality research.
In Delaware, NRG helped finance the Delmarva Odyssey project, a collaboration between
the Delaware Museum of Natural History and environmental scientist John Wik. Our Dover
plant contributed funding to the Delaware Association of Conservation Districts to help with
sponsorship of the Delaware Envirothon, a problem-solving natural resource education
program for high school students. The program provides students an integrated approach to
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Appendix B -Community Involvement
exploring six natural resource categories, and it tests their creativity, analytical thinking and
team-building skills in a competitive format. Additionally, Delaware's Indian River facility
contributed four obsolete condenser water boxes for an artificial reef project led by the
Ocean City Reef Foundation.
In Pennsylvania, NRG Energy Center Pittsburgh supports the Northside Leadership
Conference's Allegheny Commons Restoration Project, which works to preserve and protect
trees native to the Commons. And since 2010, NRG has provided significant operational
funding to the Environmental Learning Center in Armstrong County, PA. This center is a key
component in the environmental education of a host of groups in the surrounding area.
NRG has also been a sponsor of the Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival in Florida since
2002. This event offers a wide variety of opportunities for local residents and out-of-state
visitors to participate in outdoor environmental activities.
Gulf Coast Reg~on
Louisiana's Big Cajun II plant teamed up with local government offices and groups to
develop community gardens on small areas of public property for individuals to grow their
own vegetables. Individuals plant, maintain and harvest their garden, and NRG even built
an on-site greenhouse to grow plants during the winter.
We also work with the Ocean Trust, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and a host of local
stakeholders to restore tidal flow and native vegetation to the Bahia Grande tidal basin near
Brownsville, TX. The 6,500-acre site is now part of the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife
Refuge. NRG also provides native vegetation for replanting efforts and funding for the
construction of critical connection channels throughout the system.
Additionally, we've partnered with the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory in a host of habitat
restoration, preservation and education projects for 10 years. The Gulf Coast Bird
Observatory is the primary organizer of the Great Texas Birding Classic, the nation's most
comprehensive bird watching contest. NRG has been able to direct more than $140,000 to
habitat conservation projects along the Texas coast through the contest.
A_nd to top it off, NRG employees helped the Houston Zoo retrofit 13 electric golf carts to
run solely on solar power by replacing the existing roofs with solar panels.
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Appendix B -Community Involvement
West Region
NRG has joined with Ducks Unlimited on a variety of innovative habitat restoration and
water quality improvement projects across the U.S. for more than 10 years. A key element
in this collaboration has been the restoration of critical waterfowl habitat on the Delevan
National Wildlife Refuge in California's Sacramento Valley.
Additionally, NRG has provided funding support to Sealab, a division of the LA Conservation
Corps that offers at-risk youth opportunities to succeed. Sealab focuses on environmental
and service projects that benefit the community.
NRG supports the Channel Islands Marine Resource Institute (CIMRI) on the Southern
California coast in an effort to save stranded marine mammals. CIMRI recently established a
marine mammal rehabilitation center in Gaviota, just north of Santa Barbara. NRG provided
funding to the group to help it maintain sustainable food supplies to all animals being
housed at the facility. Our latest effort is to produce native dune vegetation for restoration
activities at the Ormond Beach Generating Station. During Earth Day 2014, NRG volunteers
helped kids and parents plant more than 1,500 sunflowers, tomatoes, onions and jalapenos
in biodegradable pots.
The company also is partnering with the Nature Conservancy in a long-term effort to protect
and restore the Santa Clara River Watershed, which features Southern California's last
large, relatively free-flowing river and is home to dozens of threatened or endangered
species.
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