Author Archive for: KMEA

The first KMGA regional meeting of 2024 was held on July 31st in Lyons, providing a valuable opportunity for KMGA staff to connect with member cities in a small group setting. Representatives from Ellinwood, Garden City, Lyons, Partridge, Sylvia, and Sterling attended the meeting. Key topics on the agenda included an overview of the Kansas Municipal Gas Agency (KMGA), legal update, and projections for gas supply prices for the upcoming winter.

Jonathan Mitchell, the City Manager for the City of Hoisington, Kansas, was recently honored with the prestigious Larry Hobart Seven Hats Award during the American Public Power Association’s National Conference in San Diego, California. This award recognizes outstanding managers of small utilities serving fewer than 2,500 meters.

Total U.S. electricity demand has remained relatively stable at around 4,000 terawatt-hours since 2010, but as electrification accelerates, that’s about to change, consulting group Rystad Energy said on June 24.

The build-out of data centers and more widespread adoption of electric vehicles is expected to ramp up electricity demand in the U.S. in the coming years, with Rystad Energy’s research predicting these two sectors alone will add 290 TWh of new demand by 2030.

Leading up to that point, the growth in electricity demand for data centers will be heavily driven by those focused on artificial intelligence, which consumes more electricity compared to traditional computing, Rystad Energy said.

Overall, the combined expansion of traditional and AI data centers, along with chip foundries, will increase demand cumulatively by 177 TWh from 2023 to 2030, reaching a total of 307 TWh, it said.

On July 28th, EMP participant cities gathered at the Marriott Hotel in Overland Park for the annual Joint EMP meeting. The event provided valuable insights into various aspects of energy management, funding opportunities, and market updates. Below you can see the topics discussed.
Targeting Funding Opportunities: How to Prepare Your Utility for a Grant Application

Speaker: Brett Waggoner, Governmental Assistance Services
Brett Waggoner, an expert in securing grants for utilities, emphasized the importance of strategic planning and preparation when applying for funding. He discussed best practices for identifying suitable grant opportunities, crafting compelling proposals, and maximizing the chances of success.

The city of Oberlin officially made electricity May 21st with the two new C175 Cat Generators.  The city staff along with KMEA/Mid-States and Foley Equipment made final adjustments to “light up” the new generation this May.   

This project was first approved by the Oberlin governing body on December 15, 2022.   This is the first generation project utilizing the KMEA financing structure.  This structure allows the city to utilize KMEA to bond the capital for the construction cost.  The city will see that debt obligation as a capacity charge on the monthly bill from KMEA.