Behind-the-Meter Peaking Generation
AMP has developed behind-the-meter (BTM) peaking generation projects to help participating AMP Member communities lower their overall transmission costs and provide backup generation sources.
Offsetting Rising Transmission and Capacity Costs
Reciprocating internal combustion engines have been installed behind American Municipal Power, Inc (AMP) Members’ meters in Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania, and natural gas generation units have been installed in Member communities in Michigan. Additional natural gas generation units are under construction in Ohio.
Thirty-three AMP Member communities participate in the BTM peaking generation projects, which were developed to help offset rising transmission and capacity costs for project participants. BTM generation provides local generation behind the utility’s meter — resulting in reduced system peaks, which in turn reduces costs for the municipal electric utility’s customers. AMP’s Energy Control Center is able to remotely dispatch the units. Because the BTM generation is local and not delivered over transmission lines, the community is able to avoid some transmission and capacity costs. In addition, the installations provide the added benefit of providing a source of emergency backup generation should a major outage occur, and the host communities are trained in how to use the units for that purpose.
AMP BTM Projects
- The AMP BTM RTO Peaking Project — a project serving 24 AMP Members in Ohio and Pennsylvania, within the PJM Interconnection, LLC (PJM) regional transmission organization footprint — consists of eight host sites for a total of 50.22 megawatts (MW). The AMP Members communities of Blakely, Catawissa, Duncannon, Ellwood City, Girard, Grove City, Haskins, Hooversville, Lansdale, Lehighton, Lewisberry, Mifflinburg, Monroeville, Niles, Oak Harbor, Royalton, Saint Clair, Schuylkill Haven, Summerhill, Wadsworth, Watsontown, Weatherly, Woodville and Zelienople participate in the project.
- The AMP BTM Pennsylvania Peaking Project — a project serving 14 AMP Members in Pennsylvania, also within the PJM region — consists of six host sites for a total of about 34 MWs. The AMP Member communities of Blakely, Catawissa, Duncannon, Ephrata, Hatfield, Lansdale, Lehighton, Mifflinburg, Perkasie, Quakertown, Saint Clair, Schuylkill Haven, Watsontown and Weatherly participate in the project.
- The AMP BTM Michigan Peaking Project, which serves two AMP Member communities in Michigan, consists of two host sites for a total of 22.5 MW. The AMP Member communities of Hillsdale and Coldwater participate in the project.
- The AMP BTM CAT Michigan Peaking Project, which serves three AMP Member communities in Michigan, consists of three host sites of the natural gas engine generation units that total 20 MW. The AMP Member communities of Marshall, Coldwater and Clinton participate in the project.
- The AMP BTM CAT Lebanon Peaking Project serves the AMP Member community of Lebanon. It consists of two natural gas engine generation units located in Lebanon that total 20 MW.