Residents consider starting own co-op

Clark Valley Power seeks relief from high Wyoming electricity rates, considering a co-op, purchasing Beartooth's grid, switching to Rocky Mountain Power, and building hydro, natural gas, solar, and wind generation to stabilize costs.

Residents of the northern Wyoming town of Clark are looking into starting their own electric cooperative because they're unhappy with what they're paying their current utility, Montana-based Beartooth Electric Cooperative.

Another alternative under discussion is buying Beartooth's system and, as YVEC power contract dispute shows, getting electricity from Salt Lake City-based Rocky Mountain Power.

A group of Clark residents formed the Clark Valley Power and Energy Inc. and laid out their ideas to about 100 people at a meeting last month.

Don Tolman, chairman of Clark Valley Power, said electric rates have increased beyond some residents' means, especially as some pay a green rate premium for renewable options too.

"Somehow, we've got to do something," Tolman said.

Beartooth Electric, based in Red Lodge, Mont., has the highest residential electrical rates in Wyoming, according to Wyoming Public Service Commission statistics.

The PSC numbers show a household in Beartooth's system using 750 kilowatt hours a month pays an average of $117.50 a month. The next-closest utility is $100.95.

Ron Roodell, Beartooth Electric general manager, said the co-op's Wyoming customers have had significant rate increases, with upgrades driving increases in some cases, but he said they were necessary to keep power flowing.

"You think I like this?" he said. "Heck no. I don't like it at all."

Tolman said his group has considered installing a hydroelectric plant on Little Rocky Creek, a natural gas-fired generating plant, and solar and wind power, while coal-fired projects face mounting challenges today.

He said set-up costs would be high, though some types of power plants have relatively low operating costs.

"We need to know if the community is with us or not," Tolman said. "We're talking about millions of dollars. We're talking about big loans and, with funding questions still common, something substantive."

Carl Cook, vice president of the new power group, said a co-op would mostly help the founders' children and grandchildren.

"We probably won't live long enough to see the true benefits," he said.

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