Jun. 25--PEETZ, Colo. -- A project that was six years in the making and took the collaborate effort and forward-thinking of four energy entities was dedicated Wednesday morning.

The Peetz Trailblazer Heat Recovery Project, located north of Crook, is the result of a partnership effort of Highline Electric Association, Ormat Technologies, Kinder Morgan Pipeline and Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association.

Representatives from those companies, government representatives, and guests were on hand to witness the completion and dedication of the project which is now operational and is producing four megawatts (MW) of power at the site.

"This was a process that could have failed at any time if not for our partners' willingness to work together," said Mark Farnsworth, Highline Electric Association General Manager.

Farnsworth then introduced and thanked the HEA Board of Directors for their part in the project.

"The HEA Board saw the potential for savings to our membership and benefits to the environment in this project," Farnsworth said. "Their willingness to pave a road untraveled is why we are here today."

Highline is a member-owned cooperative of Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association. In an effort to encourage the proliferation of local and community-based renewable energy projects, Tri-State launched its Member Local Renewable Project program that helps HEA and its members develop renewable energy according to Farnsworth.

"It is an important part as to why this energy project is viable," he said. "Tri-State is a valuable partner in the development of renewable energy by HEA and its members."

The facilities, owned and operated by Ormat, will capture waste heat produced by the Kinder Morgan natural gas compressor along the Trailblazer natural gas pipeline in eastern Colorado.

The recovered energy project uses hot exhaust gases from the existing natural gas-fueled compressor to generate electricity. The heat in the compressor exhaust stack is recovered using heat exchangers and is then used to vaporize a fluid to drive a turbine/generator set that ultimately produces the energy.

The project has virtually no emissions or environmental impact and is located within the existing compressor station yard.

The output from the generator is transformed onsite to 69 kilovolts (kV) and interconnected to the electric grid via the 69kV transmission line to HEA's Crook substation.

Ormat Chairman and Chief Technology Officer Lucien Bronicki also addressed the group.

"Today marks a milestone in developing additional energy resources in the state of Colorado," he said.