Next Generation Energy

March 27, 2026

Reliable and Affordable Power

At Cedar Falls Utilities, we take a long-term approach to serving our community. From maintaining local generation to investing in renewable energy, our focus has remained the same: reliable, affordable power for the people who live and work here.

That same forward-thinking approach is driving the development of the Viking Energy Center, a project designed to meet the community’s energy needs for decades to come.

A Project Years in the Making

The new Viking Energy Center is not a reaction to any single customer or industry trend. Planning for new local generation has been underway for years. Our existing energy generation resources are aging. To continue delivering the reliable and affordable power our customers expect, we must invest in new energy infrastructure. The Viking Energy Center is a direct response to that need.

The new facility will use natural gas-fired reciprocating engines, a technology being adopted by utilities across the country. These engines are efficient, flexible and designed to complement renewable energy sources.

Keeping Electric Bills Affordable

Cedar Falls residents benefit from the generating assets CFU owns. CFU maintains our 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 we need 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.

Supporting Renewable Energy Growth

Cedar Falls already benefits from a strong supply of renewable energy in our state. In fact, 61% of the energy used in our community comes from renewable sources.

However, renewable energy depends on weather conditions. When the wind isn’t blowing or the sun isn’t shining, we still need reliable power. The Viking Energy Center is designed to ramp up quickly when renewable generation dips, ensuring we can continue to maximize renewable use while maintaining reliable service.

Providing Reliable, Resilient Power

Local generation plays a critical role during extreme weather or disruptions to the regional grid. By producing power right here in Cedar Falls, we 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 fuel technologies.

Addressing Questions About Crypto Mining

Some have asked about the role of cryptocurrency mining in our community, due to recent zoning changes proposed by the City of Cedar Falls.

It’s important to be clear:

Cedar Falls Utilities serves a wide range of customers and energy planning is based on the needs of the entire system. The Viking Energy Center is a community-driven infrastructure project, not a project built for any single customer or industry.

We do serve large industrial customers, including those in emerging industries like crypto mining. These customers operate under specific agreements that are designed to benefit the entire community. Any revenue generated from these customers is reinvested locally, supporting the services and reliability our community depends on.

The City is currently considering zoning changes to accommodate additional crypto mining operations. At Cedar Falls Utilities, our role isn’t to advocate for or against this change, but to serve our community reliably and respond to its needs. The Viking Energy Center reflects years of planning to meet our community’s future energy needs, independent of any cryptocurrency mining activity.

We are Working on Your Behalf

As a locally owned utility, CFU makes choices that put our community first. The Viking Energy Center continues that tradition.

We appreciate customer engagement and interest in the project. More information is available online at cfu.net/generation.