Cedar Falls Utilities to Hold Iowa Utilities Commission Viking Energy Center Informational Meeting
July 7, 2026
Cedar Falls Utilities is advancing plans to build a new energy center in Cedar Falls. The Viking Energy Center will enable CFU to deliver the next generation of reliable, affordable and sustainable power, positioning the community for a strong future.
As part of the state permitting process for the new facility, CFU will hold a public informational meeting about the project in conjunction with the Iowa Utilities Commission. The Iowa Utilities Commission has scheduled the meeting for July 14 at noon at Cedar Falls Utilities, 1 Utility Parkway, Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613. At the meeting, CFU will provide project details, gather feedback and answer questions from attendees.
The public is invited to attend the meeting and has the right to submit comments to the Iowa Utilities Commission. The Utilities Commission’s address is 1375 E. Court Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0069. The Commission’s website is: https://iuc.iowa.gov/.
Persons with disabilities requiring assistive services or devices to observe or participate should contact the commission at (515) 725-7300 in advance of the scheduled date to request that appropriate arrangements be made.
Cedar Falls Utilities appreciates customer engagement and interest in the project. More information is available online at cfu.net/generation.
About the project:
The Viking Energy Center will be powered by dual-fuel reciprocating engines. This technology is being adopted by utilities across the country for its efficiency, responsiveness and ability to adapt to future fuel technologies.
The Viking Energy Center will help keep electric bills affordable for CFU customers. Cedar Falls residents currently benefit from the generating assets CFU owns. CFU maintains the local Streeter Station power plant, natural gas turbines and solar array. In addition, CFU owns shares of large power plants in Western Iowa. These assets help reduce how much electricity CFU needs to purchase during periods of high market prices.
But as existing facilities age, replacing them with modern, efficient generation is essential. The Viking Energy Center will help stabilize costs and protect customers from price volatility. This helps keep electric bills as low as possible.
The new energy center will support renewable energy. Cedar Falls already benefits from a strong supply of renewable energy in Iowa. In fact, 61% of the energy produced in the regional power market and distributed in Cedar Falls comes from renewable sources. However, renewable energy depends on weather conditions. When the wind isn’t blowing or the sun isn’t shining, the community still needs reliable power. The Viking Energy Center’s engines are designed to ramp up quickly when renewable generation dips, ensuring CFU can continue to maximize renewable use while maintaining reliable service.
The Viking Energy Center will also allow CFU to continue to provide reliable and resilient power. Local generation plays a critical role during extreme weather or disruptions to the regional grid. By producing power locally in Cedar Falls, CFU can maintain service even when the broader electric grid is under stress.
The engines to be installed at the Viking Energy Center produce lower emissions than existing plants and are designed to adapt to future renewable fuel technologies.