The Next Generation of Energy at CFU
CFU is advancing plans to build a new energy center in Cedar Falls.
CFU is advancing plans to build a new energy center in Cedar Falls. 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.
Due to careful planning by the CFU Board of Trustees, we are in a sound financial position to build the next generation of energy to support our community.
The energy center will support community resiliency, complement the abundant renewable energy in our market, offer fuel flexibility and help keep energy costs low for customers.
Keeps Electric Bills Low
Customers benefit from the local 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 all allow CFU to reduce the amount of energy we must buy when market prices are extremely high, helping to control utility bill costs for our customers. However, these assets are aging.
As we look to the future, the Viking Energy Center will help us maintain an energy portfolio that provides reliable, affordable energy for our customers.
Supports Renewable Energy
Our community is fortunate to benefit from abundant wind energy in our region which is renewable and affordable. Today, 65% of the energy produced in the regional power market and distributed in Cedar Falls is generated from renewable resources.
Yet, 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.
The new Viking Energy Center will be equipped to ramp up or down quickly to meet demand and adjust to the renewable energy supply. This will allow CFU to continue to provide our community with renewable energy when it is abundant but quickly provide affordable backup energy when necessary.
Efficient and Resilient
Our new energy center will utilize reciprocating engines to produce electricity using natural gas. The technology is highly efficient and produces lower emissions levels than our existing power plants. The engine’s design also enables future modifications to accommodate other alternative fuel sources.
Local electric generation in Cedar Falls allows CFU to continue to provide energy to our customers even when regional electric grid operations are impacted by a major storm event or extreme weather.
CFU’s current local generating facilities include two gas combustion turbines and the Streeter Station power plant on Utility Parkway, which can burn natural gas or coal. These facilities have nearly 88 megawatts of total generating capacity, but the equipment is aging. New generation in Cedar Falls will provide energy stability into the future.
Next Steps
There are many steps in the evaluation of a new generation resource. Preliminary analysis of the project has been completed and CFU is working on a detailed long-range plan that will include the total generation capacity that should be installed, required substation and transmission system improvements and financial impacts.
Work is being done now to prepare the Electric Utility to be in the best financial position for the large investment. If the project moves forward, the utility will likely issue bonds to help pay for the new generating plant.
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