Rocky Mountain Power, the Wyoming-based power utility for the Berkshire Hathaway-backed PacifiCorp, plans to work with two climate technology companies to evaluate a potential carbon capture project at one of its older power plants in Wyoming.
The move is a subtle shift from its thinking a few years ago when the utility determined carbon capture and storage was not economical.
Rocky Mountain, which raised electricity rates 8.3% beginning Jan. 1, said it is studying whether to place the carbon capture project at either the Wyodak coal-fired power plant located 5 miles east of Gillette, or the Dave Johnston coal-fired plant 6 miles east of Glenrock.
The 46-year-old Wyodak, which is 80% owned by PacifiCorp and 20% by Black Hills Energy Inc. in Rapid City, South Dakota, generates 332 megawatts of electricity. The 65-year-old Dave Johnston, which may see retirement of the plant’s four units over the next several years, generates 745 megawatts of electricity.
