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HomeMy WebLinkAbout13 UAMPS Carbon Free Power Projectenda Item # 14ALTJ T:T!: VJ To: Board of Directors From: Stephen Hollabaugh Date. January 19, 2017 Subject: Discussion About UAMPS Carbon Free Power Project 1. WHY THIS MATTER IS BEFORE THE BOARD 13 UAMPS has been investigating a new generation resource called The Carbon Free Power Project (CFPP). This item is to discuss the study phase and entering the licensing phase of the project. The CFPP is built around a new generation of small modular nuclear reactors (SMR). 2. HISTORY A workshop was given to the Board on April 15, 2015 to discuss the CFPP and the future resource that may be available to the District in the future. The workshop discussed the evolution away from coal, the upside and downside of natural gas and the role of clean alternatives along with the benefits of having a balanced portfolio. On August 19, 2015 the Board approved the District to enter an agreement with AMPS to enter the study phase including the siting of the project. The District entered into the agreement to further develop the CFPP as a hedge against carbon dioxide regulation that may impose cost burdens on existing fossil fueled resources and/or to provide greater diversification in our resource portfolio. Many of the costs have been partially paid for from the Department of Energy (DOE) and NuScale (the designer of this technology). The District signed up to 4,000 kw site share of this CPFF Study Phase Siting Agreement. 3. NEW INFORMATION The study and location (siting) phase of the CFPP has been successfully completed. A preferred site has been located. UAMPS, NuScale, and Energy Northwest have entered into a Teaming Agreement that outlines the parties' intent to investigate the viability of developing a SMR project in the State of Idaho at the Department of Energy's (DOE) Idaho National Laboratory (INL) site near Idaho Falls. The three phases of the CFPP are Study Phase, Licensing Phase and Construction Phase. It is now time to start the Licensing Phase. The Licensing Phase has three )hases. PHASES OF THE LICENSING PHASE(see attachment) 1. The Licensing Phase begins on the Effective Date (estimated to be July 1, 2017) of the Power Sales Contracts and ends when the Project Management Committee (PMC) determines (by a Super -Majority Vote): a. that Completion of Development has occurred and that the Project should move forward to the Construction Phase, or b. to terminate the Project. 2. The Power Sales Contracts provide a phased (or stepped) approach to the development of the Licensing Phase. When the Power Sales Contracts aredistributed to the Participants for governing body approval and execution, budget estimates for each of the three phases described below will be included in the approval/execution package. a. Sub -Phase 1 begins on the Effective Date of the Power Sales Contracts and continues the preliminary Development Work on the Project, including preliminary work on the Construction and Operating License Application (estimated to be March 31, 2018); b. Sub -Phase 2 covers the development and completion of the COLA and additional Development Work (estimated to be April 1, 2018 to Q2 of 2019); and c. Sub -Phase 3 covers the processing of the COLA through the NRC and additional Development Work to receipt of the COL and Completion of Development (estimated to be Q2 of 2019 to Q3 of 2022). 3. Completion of Development would only occur if: a. The NRC issues the Construction and Operating License (COL) for the Project, D. UAMPS completes the negotiation of a final EPC contract for the construction of the Project, and c. The PMC determines the CFPP to be feasible. OUTREACH PLAN District staff is preparing an outreach plan to target both an internal and external audience. The objective of this outreach plan is to educate our rate payers, community, and partners on the new Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology, the CFPP project details, and the conditions under which the District may choose to participate. SCHEDULED BOARD MEETINGS • January 19, 2017 (Workshop, Carbon -Free Hedge, CFPP Outreach Plan) • February 1, 2017 (Workshop, SMR Technology, CFPP financial and environmental performance • March 1, 2017 (Action, CFPP Power Sales Agreement) 4. FISCAL IMPACT The CFPP is a hedge against a base load generation cost and a hedge against carbon dioxide regulation that may impose cost burdens on existing fossil fuel resources and/or to provide greater diversification in its resource portfolio. 5. RECOMMENDATION Receive and provide input on this report. Stephen Hollabaugh Assistant General Manager 47. Michael D. Holley General Manager Approval Process for the Attachment 1 Budget and Plan of Finance During the Licensing Period (April 12 2018 until (Effective Date of Completion of the (Q2 2019--Q3 2022 with CFPP Power Sales Construction and Operating (Q3 2022--Commercial Contracts —March License Application issuance of license to Operation Date) 31, 2018) (COLA) -->anticipated Q2 of UAMPS) 2019) First Phase of the Second Phase of Third Phase of Definitive Budget Budget and Plan of Budget and Plan of Budget and an of and Plan of Finance for Finance for Finance for Finance at end of Licensing Period Licensing Period Licensing Period Licensing Period by PnnC, BOD* anl� /Approval by PMC� Approval by PMC� ,�(pp y nt Governing Bod ` and BOD and BOD Part pant Governing B *BOD=Board of Directors See Section 601(c) outlining the eqapprovals for the Budget and Plan of Finance and Secton 601(a) for the elements of the Budget and Plan of Finance Each Approval Identified above provide a withdrawal option to each Participant as described in Section 204