City Utilities of Springfield – a Missouri public power utility – on Sept. 30 broke ground on a major project to meet the growing need for electricity. Construction has begun on three new natural gas turbines at McCartney Generating Station, which will provide 150 megawatts of locally generated power for the community.
“Today is about more than breaking ground. It’s about building a stronger community,” said Dwayne Fulk, President-CEO. “The new turbines will strengthen our ability to provide reliable, locally generated power now and for the future.”
The new turbines are designed to be reliable and efficient. They can run on natural gas, fuel oil or hydrogen and can start producing electricity in as little as five minutes, helping CU respond quickly when demand is high.
This project is part of a larger initiative to expand CU’s power generation and storage. Along with the McCartney turbines, CU is adding 36 MW of battery storage: 5 MW near the Blackman Water Treatment Plant and 31 MW at James River Power Station.
These projects will ensure CU is prepared for future growth and meet significant changes to regulatory requirements, it noted.
To support these improvements, the Springfield, Missouri, City Council approved two electric rate adjustments, a 3% increase to go into effect in April 2027 and a 3.6% increase in April 2028.
Construction at McCartney Generating Station, located in northeast Springfield, is expected to be completed in 2027.
