Marne Jones on renewable energy
From Distinguished Speaker Series Presentation - Marne Jones (2023) · · UW SER
“We want to own as much of our renewable assets as possible because owning and controlling the fleet—coal, natural gas, and renewables—allows us to provide a much better cost to our customers and operate more cost-effectively.”
On , Marne Jones, Senior Vice President of Utilities at BLACK HILLS CORP, spoke about renewable energy during Distinguished Speaker Series Presentation - Marne Jones (2023) on UW SER.
About Marne Jones
Marne Jones, Senior Vice President of Utilities at Black Hills, discussed the company's operations and goals during a September 2023 Distinguished Speaker Series presentation. She stated that Black Hills has set a target of net-zero emissions on its natural gas side by 2035, and on the electric side reported a 33 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions since 2005, with goals of 40 percent by 2030 and 70 percent by 2040. Jones noted plans to convert an older coal facility in Gillette into a dual-fuel plant capable of burning both coal and natural gas, and said the company aims to own as much of its renewable assets as possible to control costs. She also mentioned that Black Hills would join a Regional Transmission Organization with SPP in April 2024 to share resources and reduce customer costs. Jones addressed the impact of Winter Storm Uri, stating that Black Hills spent approximately $550 million on natural gas over four days, an amount typically spent over a year and a half, though she said the impact on Wyoming customers was minimal due to reliance on coal generation. She emphasized the importance of maintaining reliability, stating that brownouts and blackouts are unacceptable, and discussed emerging technologies such as hydrogen, carbon capture, and advanced nuclear reactors, noting that cost, scalability, and regulatory acceptance remain open questions. Jones also said that electrification may increase electricity usage even as natural gas use declines, and that the company factors this into its long-term planning.