What is the timeline for the 24 MW solar farm?
MPW announced in November 2022, it was expanding its renewable energy portfolio. General Manager, Gage Huston signed the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Nokomis Energy for Muscatine Solar 1, the Utility’s first utility-scale renewable project in Muscatine.
Construction on the 24-megawatt solar installation at MPW’s Grandview Avenue Wellfield is anticipated to begin in Q4 of 2024, with an operational target of Q4 2025. However, due to the scale of the project and global supply chain issues, timing is subject to change.
This project is expected to interconnect to MPW’s transmission system at 69,000 volts. To do this, MPW is obligated to register and apply for the upcoming Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO)’s Definitive Planning Phase (DPP) 2021 planning cycle. At the June 2021 Board meeting, the Board of Trustees approved a project to cover the application fee, study deposits, and milestone capacity payments for this MISO DPP study. MISO’s DPP study process determines project impact and costs to the transmission system. Any improvement costs identified by MISO are the responsibility of MPW and could impact this project’s future. With several delays due to a significant number of applications to review and study, MPW’s application is still under review.
To learn more, read this press release.
