CHP in Utah

• Number of Sites
• Installed Megawatts
• Sample Utah Companies Using CHP
• Electricity Prices
• Natural Gas Prices
• Key Utah Contacts
• Major Electric Utilities
• State-Wide Interconnection Provisions
• Financial Incentives for CHP

NUMBER OF SITES: 22

INSTALLED MEGAWATTS: 326

SAMPLE UTAH COMPANIES USING CHP:

Education Sector

• Utah State University

Healthcare Sector

• Holy Cross Hospital
• Primary Childrens Medical Center

Resorts and Lodging

• Snowbird Ski Resort

Government/Public Buildings

• Central Valley Water Reclamation Facility *renewable energy
• Central Weber Wastewater Treatment Plant *renewable energy
• North Davis County Sewer Improvement District *renewable energy
• Price River Wastewater Treatment Plant *renewable energy
• Salt Lake City Water Reclamation Plant *renewable energy
• City of Springville

Industrial

• La-Z-Boy Chair Company *renewable energy
• Methanol Production Corp.
• Mountain Fuel Supply
• Tesoro Petroleum
• U.S. Magnesium

Other

• Inkley's Photo Lab
• Panguitch Micro Energy Cogeneration Inc *renewable energy
• Lagoon Corp.
• Pacificorp

(See the Installation Database for more information on these installations)

ELECTRICITY PRICES

Utah electricity prices have gone up a little over a penny per kWh (with typical seasonal variations) over the last five years, but were still well below national averages. CHP plans might have to rely on other reasons such as reliability or a large thermal load to justify the project.

NATURAL GAS PRICES

Natural gas prices in Utah have been falling since a peak in the winter of 2005/2006. It is hard to tell if this trend will continue over the next few years, but given the commodity price of oil, it seems unlikely. Commercial gas prices were significantly less, in Utah, than the national average. The industrial price, however, was slightly more than the national average.

When evaluating CHP, a considerable amount of attention needs to be placed on the price of natural gas, and where it may be headed in the future. The combination of relatively low electric prices and rising natural gas prices does makes it more difficult for a CHP project to generate cost savings, but there are still going to be successful applications for the appropriate use of CHP. The best applications are those that value high reliability, have higher electric rates during peak times, spend a high percentage of their energy bill on air conditioning, and/or potentially could make use of a “waste fuel”.

KEY UTAH CONTACTS
Public Service Commission of Utah

MAJOR ELECTRIC UTILITIES
PacifiCorp
Provo City Power
St. George Department of Water and Power
Logan City Light & Power
Murray City Power Department

STATE-WIDE INTERCONNECTION PROVISIONS

• Utah has no standard interconnection requirements or procedures.
• Utilities negotiate interconnections on an individual basis with installers. CHP facilities sell power to the grid at the avoided cost rate up to 1 MW.
• Check the DSIRE Database for the latest updates.

FINANCIAL INCENTIVES FOR CHP

• Check our Grants Page for any state or federal grants that may be applicable for CHP systems in Utah.
• Check the DSIRE Database and the EPA CHP Partnership for additional incentives for Utah.
• If you are thinking of putting in a project, you may  to see if we know of any one-time grants or other funding opportunities.