In response to continued growth and rising energy demands, Baldwin City has begun the addition of a second electrical substation to bolster the community’s power infrastructure. The new facility aims to provide reliable service to expanding neighborhoods in the northern and eastern parts of town.
Currently, the city’s existing substation—located on the southern end—is nearing its capacity limits.
On Tuesday, July 29, 2025, the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) elevated its operational status to a Conservative Operations Advisory across its entire Balancing Authority (BA) footprint. The advisory was in effect from 1:50 PM to 8:00 PM, prompted by:
Forced generation outages
High electricity demand
Uncertainty in Variable Energy Resources (VERs), such as wind
Extreme heat across the region
During the advisory period, several KMEA member cities generated local power to support grid stability. Their contributions were instrumental in helping meet demand and maintain reliability:
We’re excited to announce that the 2025 KMEA/KMGA Annual Conference will be held on November 13–14 in Wichita, Kansas—this year at a new location, the Marriott Hotel. The conference will bring together municipal utility leaders, industry experts, and partners for two days of networking, learning, and collaboration. In conjunction with the conference, the Board of Directors meeting will take place on November 13, offering members an opportunity to engage in important discussions and decision-making. Mark your calendars and stay tuned for registration details and agenda updates!
Southwest Power Pool (SPP) has reached a major milestone in its mission to strengthen energy reliability across its 14-state service territory. In July, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved two key initiatives: the Performance-Based Accreditation (PBA) and Effective Load Carrying Capability (ELCC) methodologies, along with the Expedited Resource Adequacy Study (ERAS) process. These approvals mark a significant advancement in how energy resources are evaluated and integrated into the grid, especially as the region adapts to a more diverse and evolving energy mix.
The PBA and ELCC methodologies represent a modern, data-driven approach to resource accreditation. This means SPP can now more accurately determine how much each type of generator—whether wind, solar, hydro, or natural gas—can be relied upon during peak demand periods. By aligning accreditation with real-world performance, utilities and grid operators gain better tools to plan for and maintain a reliable grid. This is particularly important for municipal utilities, which depend on fair and transparent resource evaluation to ensure consistent service to their communities.
The City of Garden City is seeking a dependable and safety-conscious Apprentice Lineman to work alongside experienced journeymen in maintaining the City’s electric utility system, learning proper equipment use and safety procedures while committing to a four-year apprenticeship program with 90% or better attendance in weekly classes; candidates must have a high school diploma or GED, a valid Kansas driver’s license, be able to obtain a CDL within 6 months, and be willing to work outdoors in all weather conditions, including being part of a rotating on-call schedule. Pay range is $28.44 – $34.98 per hour
On June 26, representatives from four KMEA member cities—Ottawa, Gardner, Garden City, and Lindsborg—toured the Dogwood Energy Facility. This 675 MW natural gas-fired plant is partially owned by five KMEA member cities, which collectively hold a 10.1% stake in the facility.
During the visit, members received a presentation highlighting the facility’s key attributes, its operational history, and potential future projects or upgrades.
Located in Pleasant Hill, Missouri, Dogwood Energy utilizes highly efficient combined-cycle technology powered by two Siemens Westinghouse 501F combustion turbines. These turbines began commercial operations in 2003 and have since been upgraded with Siemens’ latest technology. The facility generates enough electricity annually to power approximately 250,000 homes.
The majority owners of Dogwood Energy are five public power utilities serving numerous municipalities across Missouri and Kansas. Evergy Missouri West is also a co-owner.
On July 1, 2025, the U.S. Senate passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1), preserving key provisions for the energy and public power sectors. Despite earlier drafts proposing changes, the final bill:
Maintains elective payment eligibility for energy tax credits.
Preserves the tax exclusion for municipal bonds, a win for public power utilities.
Thanks to advocacy from the American Public Power Association (APPA) and allies, a proposed repeal of the domestic content exception for elective payments was dropped.
The bill also:
Phases out investment and production tax credits (ITC/PTC) for wind and solar after 2027, but offers relief for projects already underway.
Delays enforcement of foreign entity of concern (FEOC) rules that could affect credit eligibility.
Raises concerns about PAYGO sequestration, which could impact federal payments unless Congress acts to waive it.
In a major shift aimed at streamlining energy infrastructure development, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) voted unanimously on June 30, 2025, to revise how it implements the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This move follows President Trump’s Executive Order 14154, titled Unleashing American Energy, which prioritizes efficient permitting to boost U.S. energy dominance
FERC’s updated regulations:
Eliminate references to rescinded Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) rules.
Introduce a new staff manual to guide environmental reviews with a focus on speed, consistency, and early information gathering.
Aim to reduce delays and increase transparency in permitting processes.
Include the repeal of FERC Order 871, which had previously slowed natural gas infrastructure approvals
In a historic move, Constellation Energy is accelerating efforts to restart Unit One of the Three Mile Island nuclear plant—now renamed the Crane Clean Energy Center—by 2027, a full year ahead of schedule. This comes nearly five decades after the infamous 1979 nuclear accident at the site, though Unit One was not involved in that incident.
The restart is being driven by a 20-year power purchase agreement with Microsoft, which plans to use the plant’s clean energy to power its AI operations and data centers. The facility is already over 64% staffed, with nearly 400 full-time employees onboard and more hires on the way.
Key upgrades and preparations include:
Steam generator replacements (done in 2009) that passed recent inspections.
Training of new reactor operators, a process that takes 18 months.
AI integration to enhance operational efficiency and safety.
Planned license extension from 2034 to 2054 to match Microsoft’s agreement.
We’re excited to welcome Philip Fortner to the KMEA team as our newest System Operator! Hailing from Baton Rouge, Philip brings a background in industrial operations and holds a degree in Process Technology from ITI Technical College. Before joining KMEA, he worked as a power plant operator, gaining valuable experience in energy systems and plant operations.
