American Municipal Power, Inc. (AMP) has developed behind-the-meter (BTM) generation projects to help participating AMP member communities lower their overall transmission costs and provide back-up generation sources. Reciprocating internal combustion engines (RICE) diesel units have been installed behind AMP members’ meters in Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania, and additional diesel and natural gas generation units are under construction in Michigan.
Thirty-two AMP member communities participate in the BTM Pennsylvania, BTM Michigan and RTO peaking projects, which were developed to help offset rising transmission and capacity costs for project participants. Ten of the Pennsylvania participants in the BTM PA peaking project also participate in the RTO peaking project.
BTM generation provides local generation behind the utility’s meter — resulting in reduced system peaks that reduces costs for the municipal utility’s customers. BTM lowers transmission obligation because the generation is local and not delivered over transmission lines, so the community is able to avoid some transmission 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.
The AMP BTM RTO Peaking Project — a project serving 24 AMP members within the PJM Interconnection region — consists of eight host sites for a total of 50,220 kilowatts (kWs) in both Ohio and Pennsylvania; the AMP BTM Pennsylvania Peaking Project also within the PJM Interconnection Region — a project serving 14 AMP members in Pennsylvania — consists of six host sites for a total of 34,020 kWs. Under construction is the AMP BTM Michigan Peaking Project — a project that will serve four AMP members in Michigan within the MISO Interconnection region — which consists of six host sites for a total of 42,500 kWs.
BTM RTO Peaking Project
The AMP member 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, which consists of eight host sites for a total of 50,220 kWs.
BTM MI Peaking Project
The AMP member communities of Clinton, Coldwater, Hillsdale and Marshall participate in the project, which consists of five host sites for a total of 42,500 kWs.
BTM PA Peaking Project
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, which consists of six host sites for a total of 34,020 kWs.
For more information, contact William Sandell, vice president of generation operations and development, at (614) 540-6382 or [email protected].