Sustainable Power

Big Rivers Electric Corporation is taking a strategic approach to sustainability that carefully balances our available power generation resources and the needs of our Member-Owners. Protecting both the cost of energy and the environment means efficiently using traditional and sustainable energy sources.

Traditional resources, like coal and gas, allow Big Rivers to provide the baseload energy needed to affordably and reliably serve our region’s homes and businesses today. We’re also incorporating greater access to greener sources, such as hydropower and solar energy, that will limit environmental impact moving forward.

Since 2010, Big Rivers has cut carbon emissions by more than 70%.

Key power sources

Coal

In 2022, Big Rivers invested $100 million to further reduce emissions and lower generating costs at Wilson Station in Ohio County. The 417 MW power plant is fueled by local coal, and coal generation remains an important resource for Big Rivers. Wilson Station continues to excel at efficiency and reliability, providing a critical 365-day, 24-hour energy for our region and the grid. Purchasing contracts for local coal also gives Big Rivers an advantage against future price fluctuations in natural gas.

Natural gas

In 2022, Big Rivers spent $43 million to convert Green Station from coal to natural gas. Big Rivers has retired power plants that have reached the end of their lifespan. However, the Green Station units were selected for natural gas conversion to preserve the plant’s valuable generation and workforce for coming years. Natural gas allows Big Rivers to access another resource while cutting carbon emissions in half compared to the plant’s formerly coal-fired generation.

Green Energy

Hydropower and solar energy meet the needs of our Member-Owners and the environment. Big Rivers currently contracts 178 MW of hydropower through the Southeastern Power Administration (SEPA). Big Rivers has also signed contracts to secure power from future large-scale solar energy projects in western Kentucky. While renewables currently fall behind traditional resources in reliability, they help create a diverse generation portfolio that cuts the environmental impact on our region. Our Member-Owners and industry prospects desire economically-priced green energy, and the cost of these energy sources continues to decrease.

By 2025, Big Rivers will generate and access power from a diverse portfolio:

Why focus on sustainability?

As generation and transmission cooperative owned by the people of western Kentucky, we need to build a future that works best for our Member-Owners, grid reliability, financial health, evolving technology, our workforce, and environmental stewardship. We’re are on mission to serve our Member-Owners, and we must be proactive in securing the energy these consumers and businesses need to thrive in a changing economy. Big Rivers provides 99.999% system reliability, a strength that relies on quickly adjusting each generation resource to meet the fluctuating power needs of our region and the grid. Since Big Rivers operates as a not-for-profit cooperative, we have a financial responsibility to not only minimize the price of electricity for our Member-Owners but also prepare to the system meet future challenges. We seek to proactively adapt and develop sustainable power resources and technology that keeps our Member-Owners and local industries competitive in the evolving world. We take great pride in protecting our beautiful region and creating a sustainable power system that will benefit our region and lessen environmental impact.

Environmental, social, and Governance report

2023 environmental, social,
and governance report

2023 Annual Report

CCR Rule Compliance and Data Information

The EPA published the final rule for the Coal Combustion Residuals in the Federal Register on April 17, 2015. The new rule establishes technical requirements for CCR landfills and surface impoundments under subtitle E of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. Big Rivers started implementing the new requirements in 2015 by publishing data and information to publicly accessible internet sites.

Current
D.B Wilson Station

Sebree Station

Coleman Station

Archived
D.B Wilson Station - Archived Documents

Sebree Station - Archived Documents

Coleman Station - Archived Documents

ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION MEMBER OWNERS
Jackson Purchase Energy
Kenergy Corporation
Meade County RECC

STATEWIDE AFFILIATE
Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives

NATIONAL AFFILIATE
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association

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