At a recent meeting of Muscatine, Iowa’s Board of Water, Electric and Communications Trustees, the board took additional steps toward expanding the city utility’s renewable energy portfolio by authorizing Muscatine Power and Water General Manager Gage Huston to enter into a land lease agreement with Blackhawk Capital Investments LLC.
Once the lease is executed, assessments can begin to determine the suitability for a solar development.
This lease is the latest in a series of lease agreements the utility is pursuing to evaluate additional solar generation for Muscatine.
MPW is already committed to building a 24-megawatt solar farm – dubbed Muscatine Solar 1 – on 250 acres of land. That project has been delayed as MPW seeks Midcontinent Independent System Operator approval of the interconnection of that capacity to the MISO grid.
The utility is considering additional sites for possible future expansion of its renewable energy portfolio. The newest land lease – in conjunction with Muscatine Solar 1 – provides an opportunity for MPW to have up to approximately 88 MW of solar capacity.
The possible expansions in renewable energy align with MPW’s Powering The Future initiative, which seeks to sustain a reliable, low-cost and more sustainable power supply for Muscatine.
In a recent episode of APPA’s Public Power Now podcast, Huston discussed the Powering The Future initiative, as well as other topics.
The Board also approved a revised project summary form for an emergency generator replacement for the Utility’s administration and operations center for a total cost of $315,900.
The cost increase is attributed to a change in the fuel tank design due to limited existing fire protection, and a sharp increase in material costs. The emergency generator at this location is part of a redundant power supply configuration that serves critical utility equipment, including electric and water system controls and telecommunications (internet, video, phone) delivery equipment. The existing generator – installed in 1980 – has reached the end of its useful life and is recommended for replacement to maintain power supply reliability.
Public Power Week
The utility noted it will be commemorating Public Power Week, October 6-12, through various public awareness activities. Sponsored by the American Public Power Association, the week-long recognition is designed to honor municipal utilities and highlight the benefits public power provides communities across the nation.
Additional details will be available via the Utility’s customer newsletter, social media, and website, it noted.
