Archive for category: General Information

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.

Mitchell’s role encompasses a wide range of responsibilities, reflecting the “seven hats” of his position including planning and design, administration, public relations, field supervision, accounting, human resources, and community leadership

As City Manager since 2009, Mitchell oversees day-to-day operations, strategic planning, and infrastructure design. He ensures efficient utility management, fosters community engagement, and maintains financial accountability. Beyond his official duties, Mitchell actively contributes to community well-being through volunteer work, including service with the Hoisington Ambulance Service and youth sporting activities.

From 2015 to 2023, he held executive board positions in the Kansas Municipal Energy Agency (KMEA), demonstrating leadership and dedication. The award recognizes Mitchell’s exceptional contributions, making it a well-deserved honor for his commitment to the City of Hoisington.

 

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.

“Despite data centers currently representing a relatively modest portion of total electricity demand in the US, this marks a more than two-fold increase compared to 2023 levels, which stood at 130 TWh, highlighting the efforts of the US to position itself as a global data center hub,” Rystad Energy noted.

EVs will emerge as the second major catalyst for power demand growth in the US market up to 2030. In 2023, electricity consumption in the transportation sector totaled 18.3 TWh. By 2030, this figure is projected to soar to 131 TWh, driven primarily by the expansion of battery electric vehicles (BEVs).

In tandem, Rystad Energy forecasts that total US power demand across the residential, commercial and industrial sectors will grow by 175 TWh between 2023 and 2030, bringing the country’s demand close to 4,500 TWh. To support this growth, renewable energy capacity continues to expand at a strong rate, aided by incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act, it said.

Read more at:

Data Centers, EV Expansion Create Around 300 TWh Increase in U.S. Electricity Demand by 2030 | American Public Power Association

On June 28th, EMP participants 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.

Presentations and Speakers

1. 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.

2. Understanding Renewable Tax Credits

Speakers: Mitch Walter and Alan Woolever, Gilmore & Bell

Mitch Walter and Alan Woolever from Gilmore & Bell delved into the intricacies of renewable tax credits. They covered topics such as federal and state incentives, eligibility criteria, and the impact of tax credits on renewable energy projects.

3. Distributed Generation Toolkit

Speakers: Greg DuMars and Jill McFarland, KMU (Kansas Municipal Utilities)

Greg DuMars and Jill McFarland presented the Distributed Generation Toolkit, a comprehensive resource for utilities considering distributed energy resources (DERs). They discussed practical implementation, regulatory considerations, and case studies. Attendees gained practical guidance on integrating DERs into their energy portfolios.

4. Energy Market Outlook

Speaker: Abhishek Deshpande, PhD, NextEra Energy Resources

Abhishek Deshpande provided an insightful overview of the energy market landscape. His presentation covered trends, challenges, and opportunities in the evolving energy sector.

5. KMEA Project and Opportunities

Speaker: Neal Daney, KMEA (Kansas Municipal Energy Agency)

Neal Daney highlighted KMEA’s ongoing projects and collaborative opportunities. His presentation emphasized the collective strength of municipal utilities working together to enhance energy reliability and sustainability.

 

We appreciate all the EMP participant cities that were able to attend this meeting! It was great seeing everyone!

 

 

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.     

“Oberlin is set for the future with new, user-friendly, and reliable power generation. With partnerships from KMEA, KMEA-Mid States, CAT, “The Bank” and many others, Oberlin will no longer be subjected to lengthy power outages and now has the opportunity to claim 6 MW of inhouse generation as well as retaining $60,000 per year in savings from utilities needed to keep the old plant “run ready”. This strategic move not only ensures uninterrupted power supply but also signifies a significant step towards financial efficiency and sustainability for Oberlin”. Says Oberlin Co-Administrator David Sporn.  KMEA would like to congratulate the city of Oberlin on the investment into the electric utility that will benefit the community for generations to come.

    

The Biden-Harris Administration opened applications today for a historic $1.3 billion funding opportunity for electric vehicle (EV) charging and alternative-fueling infrastructure in urban and rural communities and along designated highways, interstates, and major roadways. This is the largest single grant funding opportunity for EV charging in the nation’s history and it will accelerate public and private investment in clean transportation in the places where people live, work, and play.

This funding opportunity is made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s signature EV charging investments: the $2.5 billion Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program and funds from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program that are set aside for strategic grants to states and local governments to deploy EV chargers. Supported by unifying guidance and technical assistance from the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation (Joint Office), the CFI program is administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and is open to state, regional, Tribal, and local government entities.

For more information follow the link: Biden-Harris Administration Opens Applications for $1.3 Billion in Funding to Continue Expanding National Electric Vehicle Charging Network · Joint Office of Energy and Transportation (driveelectric.gov)