KMEA provides an equipment loan program exclusively for its members. Member cities can access all equipment on a first-come, first-served basis. To inquire about availability or to schedule equipment, please reach out to Tyson McGreer at 913-660-0235 or mcgreer@kmea.com. Please see below a list of the equipment available.
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.
Recognizing Heroic Efforts: Electric Department Employees Go Above and Beyond
The City’s electric department is proud to highlight the heroic efforts of three outstanding employees: Superintendent Billy Villanueva, Line Foreman Jr. Salinas, and Journeyman Lineman Alex Rodriguez. These individuals exemplify the core value of community, by going beyond their regular duties to assist others in times of need.
On Thursday, June 13, Billy and Jr. were returning from inspecting recent improvements to the airport’s electric system when they witnessed a semi-truck overturn on US 50 and Raceway Road, east of Garden City. Without hesitation, they rushed to the scene, joining other first responders to assist in removing the trapped truck driver. Their quick thinking and selflessness helped an individual they did not know, and potentially saving his life.
Just two days later, on the evening of Saturday, June 15, Journeyman Lineman Alex Rodriguez was at home when he heard an explosion nearby. Without hesitation, Alex was one of the citizens who rushed to the home where catastrophic damage had occurred. Alex helped an individual escape from the debris, and fire demonstrating immense courage and compassion.
The City of Garden City extends its sincere gratitude to Billy, Jr., and Alex. Their actions embody the spirit of community, as they put others’ safety above their own. We are proud to have such dedicated and caring individuals on our team, said Mike Muirhead, Director of Public Works and Utilities for the City of Garden City.
Remember, it’s not just about providing reliable electricity; it’s about being there for our community when it matters most. Thank you, Billy, Jr., and Alex, for your unwavering commitment to public power, service and compassion.
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.
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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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 Russell experienced another severe storm the afternoon of May 19. With winds sweeping through the region at over 80 mph the city and the region received extensive damage to the distribution system.
The city immediately began to determine the extent of the damage and developed a plan of action to repair the system and restore power to the city’s customers.
A coordinated effort of multiple communities was initiated by Kansas Municipal Utilities. The cities of Garden City, Ellinwood, Hoisington, Colby, and Pratt responded to a community in need with manpower, equipment, and materials to expedite the rebuilding process.
KMEA also responded to the call in need from one of our members. Dan White, manager of field services, along with Nolan, field technician, responded to assist the city with coordination and repairs to the system.
With the expansion of the KMEA/Mid-States team, the array of services has expanded exponentially over the past few years. KMEA/Mid-States can respond to the need of a member community in times of emergency like the city of Russell.
With the assistance of these communities and agencies working along side the city of Russell the utility reported that by approximately midnight the utility had power up on all circuits with only localized outages being reported. Clean up and final repairs continued into the next week but with the quick work of all of the responders the citizens of Russell experienced power interruption limited as little as possible.
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 city of Ottawa recently completed the replacement of the catalyst on the Cooper units 6 & 7 at the power plant.
The city made the decision to replace the catalyst for a couple reasons. First, the old catalyst was creating back pressure and causing increased heat on the turbo exhaust. Secondly, because of the location of the old catalyst the emissions reduction was narrowly meeting the 70% reduction standard.
The new DCL catalyst/mufflers were purchased through and installed by Wheeler World in Ohio for under $375,000.
The city performed a 4-hour maintenance runs on both units and they showed a decrease from 15 – 18” H2O to 3.5 – 4” H2O.
A non-certified test had a 95% reduction in emissions making the unit much more compliant. The certified test will be conducted by Donna Ohem of Power Plant Compliance June 25th and 26th.
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)
