Evergy promises renewable and dispatchable generation over next 20 years

In a plan filed with the Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) this week, Evergy, Inc. laid out plans for the next 20 years of customer electricity needs, with pledges to add 5,100 MW of wind and solar energy, backed by 5,200 MW of firm, dispatchable generation. 

“Economic development opportunities in Missouri and Kansas are at historic levels and our plan reflects the generation needed to support that growth while maintaining affordable and reliable service for our customers,” David Campbell, Evergy President and CEO, said. “We will invest in renewable energy resources and dispatchable generation to serve the growing electricity load in our region, maintaining the diverse energy mix that has served our customers well.”

The Integrated Resource Plan is a triennial filing, and in this case, it included additional capacity meant to address economic development in the region and increased capacity requirements from the Southwest Power Pool. Overall, the plan called for 1,900 MW more in generation than was anticipated in Evergy’s 2023 filing, following updates to cost evaluations for operating existing plants, adding supply-side generation, and expanding demand-side programs. 

In addition to its solar and wind additions, the company’s dispatchable generation add-ons will include 2,500 MW of hydrogen-capable natural gas generation deployed between 2029 and 2032. This will come as Evergy works to retire more than 4,500 MW of coal-based generation. To date, the company has retired 2,400 MW of fossil-fuel-generating sources. It intends to cut carbon emissions by 70 percent by 2030, when compared to 2005 levels, and push toward net-zero carbon emissions by 20245. 

Little of the new deployments will be immediately felt. This year, the plan calls for just 143 MW of natural gas generation. Things pick up pace starting in 2027, though, with 600 MW of solar deployment and another 450 MW in 2028. 

“A diverse energy portfolio positions Evergy well for the responsible transition of our generation fleet,” Campbell said. “We remain committed to advancing reliability, affordability, and sustainability as we replace older, higher-cost plants with newer technologies. Firm, dispatchable generation resources will provide the capacity needed to ensure reliability for our customers while our continued investment in renewables supports our carbon reduction goals. Many large commercial and industrial customers specifically require access to affordable renewable energy, and we are well positioned to deliver on that requirement.”

Evergy noted that a similar filing should follow in Kansas this May. The company serves 1.7 million customers across Kansas and Missouri combined.