LINCOLN – Lincoln Electric System invites community members to attend a public meeting regarding its upcoming integrated resource planning process. The first of three public meetings will occur April 21, 2022, 6-7 p.m. at the LES Operations Center, 9445 Rokeby Road.
LES develops a new IRP every five years per its contract for hydroelectric power from the Western Area Power Administration. The 2022 study will be LES’ first IRP guided by its new decarbonization goal, seeking to achieve net-zero carbon dioxide emissions from its generation portfolio by 2040. The IRP is an important decision-making tool for exploring potential future outcomes when making resource-planning choices.
“We simulate a number of different scenarios as part of the IRP,” said Scott Benson, manager, LES Resource & Transmission Planning. “The point is to identify the power supply resource options that will be successful over the broadest range of future situations.”
The first of three Integrated Resource Plan public meetings will describe the upcoming IRP process and discuss a recently completed external review of LES’ customer-facing, energy-efficiency programs, collectively known as the Sustainable Energy Program. Merging industry expertise with customer-owner input, LES’ IRP process reinforces local control and adds value to the community by facilitating thoughtful conversations about its energy future. The first two meetings will be followed a month later by supplemental, hands-on workshops for those who would like a more in-depth exploration of the topics.
IRPs are commonly used tools in the electric utility industry, designed to examine and compare supply-side (e.g., generation) and demand-side (e.g., energy efficiency and demand response) resource investments to identify a reliable energy supply while keeping costs affordable for customers. The IRP will culminate in a five-year action plan, recommending key actions and investments needed to meet LES’ goals, while continuing to meet the electricity needs of area customers reliably and cost-effectively.
To learn more about LES’ 2022 IRP, visit LES.com/IRP. Related comments and questions may also be submitted to [email protected].