2026 Wyoming Integrated Resource Plan
Utility planning is critical to our ability to serve our customers’ energy needs while maintaining a safe and reliable electric system. Through extensive analysis and modeling, we forecast energy demand over a 20-year planning horizon and identify the most cost-effective power generation resources needed to serve our customers. The Integrated Resource Plan provides a roadmap for meeting our customers' energy needs through a balanced mix of generation resources including coal, natural gas, wind, solar, and battery storage.
The future power needs of large use customers and data centers are addressed separately through customer-specific contracts per the Large Power Contract Service (LPCS) tariff.
The LPCS tariff has been in place for over a decade in Wyoming and provides cost protections to customers. With this tariff, large use customers and data centers are required to pay for all new infrastructure necessary to serve them.
2026 IRP overview and recommendations
- Near-term generation needs: We identified a near-term energy capacity shortfall of 95 megawatts (MW) beginning in 2027. To fill this gap, we are recommending a preferred portfolio of resources which includes 36 MW of new natural gas-fired generation, 50 MW of battery storage, and energy market purchases.
- Natural gas generation: We have identified natural gas-fired reciprocating internal combustion engines (RICE), as the most economical option to provide the needed generation capacity. The RICE engines will be available to quickly adapt to any fluctuations in load and resource needs.
- Battery storage: We are also recommending adding a battery storage resource to provide fast response, low-cost energy compared to other alternatives.
- Coal generation: Our modeling and analysis consider the continued use of coal generation as a primary fuel source to support baseload energy needs.
2026 Cheyenne Light Integrated Resource Plan
Frequently asked questions
What is an Integrated Resource Plan?
An Integrated Resource Plan is a long-term planning tool used by electric utilities to outline how future energy and demand needs will be met reliably and affordably. The process models future resource needs over a 20-year planning horizon using a balanced mix of generation resources including coal, natural gas, wind, solar and battery storage.
What is the goal of this planning process?
Our goal is to fairly evaluate all resource options to compare costs and benefits and achieve lower overall costs. The outcome of this extensive analysis and modeling is to recommend a preferred portfolio of least-cost resources needed to meet our customers’ energy needs in the near- and long-term.
What did your analysis reveal?
Our 2026 IRP identified a near-term capacity shortfall of 95 megawatts (MW) beginning in 2027.
How are you proposing to close this capacity shortfall?
We are proposing a preferred portfolio of resources that would add 36 MW of new natural gas-fired generation, 50 MW of energy storage, and energy market purchases. This mix of generation resources will provide our customers with reliable and cost-effective solutions for this capacity shortfall.
What type of natural gas-fired generation are you proposing?
We are proposing the addition of natural gas-fired reciprocating internal combustion engines (RICE). The natural gas RICE resource will economically provide firm capacity and will be available to quickly adapt to any fluctuations in load and resource needs.
Why are you proposing energy storage?
The addition of 50 MW of energy storage will economically address the capacity shortfall while providing fast response and low-cost energy compared to other alternatives.
What are the next steps in adding new generation resources identified in the preferred portfolio?
We will seek the necessary Commission approvals for the resources identified in the preferred portfolio.
When would the new generation resources be placed into service?
Pending all approvals, the RICE and energy storage units are estimated to be placed into service in 2029.
Now that the company has submitted its IRP, what happens next?
The Wyoming PSC will set a schedule that will include public comment on our IRP. Implementation of the recommendations in the IRP may require further proceedings with the PSC.