CFU Customers Benefit from Abundant Renewable Energy Supply in Iowa
CFU is advancing plans to build the Viking Energy Center which will allow us to support the abundant renewable energy available in Iowa.
Sixty-five percent of the energy produced in the regional power market and distributed in Cedar Falls in 2024 was generated from renewable resources. Iowa ranks third in the country for most wind plus solar generation per square mile of land, surpassing even Texas and California.
This means 65% of the energy you use to power your home is produced from renewable resources.
Even though you may not see wind turbines or large-scale solar located in our community, CFU has invested in local infrastructure and joint owned transmission projects so we can access energy generated across the state including from wind and solar.
Energy Generated Throughout the State Flows into the Regional Energy Market
Most of the electricity used in Cedar Falls is purchased through a regional energy market. The energy generated by nearly all of the wind turbines, solar panels and fossil fuel plants in Iowa flows into the power market pool daily.
Our local Streeter Station power plant, natural gas turbines, solar array and our share of large power plants in western Iowa all generate energy that flows into the regional energy market pool.
Utilities, like CFU, also purchase energy out of the pool to meet their communities' daily electric needs. Today that energy is largely renewable.
Customers Need Reliable, Affordable Energy Even When Renewables Are Not Available
While we welcome more renewable energy in the market, it remains important to provide reliable, affordable energy even when the sun isn't shining or the wind isn't blowing.
Traditional generation from fuel-dependent plants remains a key component in today's energy market and provides reliable, affordable energy when renewables are not available.
CFU maintains our traditional power plants and gas turbines to supplement the renewable energy on the market. However, our local power plants are over 50 years old and it is time to consider what comes next.
The New Viking Energy Center Will Support Abundant Renewable Energy in Iowa
CFU is advancing plans to build a new energy center in Cedar Falls that will support the renewable energy in our market. The new Viking Energy Center will enable CFU to deliver the next generation of energy — sustainable, reliable and affordable — positioning us for a strong future.
The Viking Energy Center will be located south of Viking Road and east of Union Road in the Industrial Park and will take several years to construct.
The unique flexibility of the energy center will be enabled for ultra-fast starts and stops to meet demand as needed. This will allow us to quickly adjust to the energy market, use renewable energy when it is available and supply reliable and affordable power to our community.
Look for more about the next generation of energy at CFU in the coming months at cfu.net/generation.