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From the Saint Joseph ,M0 News-Press 2-14-99

After all the feelgood stuff about increased revenues,the crux of the article is contained in the next-to-last paragraph:

"The generators also can be used to provide electricity for each town if the grid that supplies power to the area fails."

Many of the small towns in NW Missouri generated their own electricity up until the mid-70's.The "fuel crisis" of that period more or less forced most of them to tie into the grid to be able to maintain affordable electricity supplies.The grid at that time was made up of several Rural Electric Cooperatives which have since been bought out by the bean counters in who knows what city.The situation is similar to what is going on in Australia right now.

My good friend WilferdW will provide a hyperlink for credibility.

--------------------St Jo News-Press article--------------------

Several small cities in Northwest Missouri are looking at what appears to be a golden opportunity offered to them by Dean Machinery Co. of St. Joseph and Kansas City.

If the proposals work out as planned, portable generators will create power and money on the cities doorsteps.

Weve looked very carefully from the perspective of the city, and weve not found a lot of exposure to a down side, said John Grotzinger, executive director of engineering and operations for the Missouri Joint Municipal Electric Utility Commission.

The commission handles the buying and selling of electricity for 19 cities in the area.

Dean Machinery, a Caterpillar distributor, has suggested a partnership between the company and at least six towns, including Albany and Gallatin. Generators that are the size to fit in a semi-tractor trailer will crouch on city land, producing up to two megawatts of needed electricity to send out over existing transmission lines.

Demand for electricity was high during the summer of 1999, creating prices at times of $10,000 per kilowatt hour. Chillicothe, which can produce surplus electricity, had its generators churning at full force. Now these little towns might have the same opportunity.

Those spikes arent gone, and wont be for at least one more year, Mr. Grotzinger said. This summer there seems to be a lot of demand for capacity. There hasnt been a lot of new capability put in lately, and no one knows what the weather will bring. During the last few years, demand has outstripped capacity. Theres some concern about shortfalls.

The generators will hook into existing computerized electrical systems and be turned on or off by the commission as needed.

Gallatins Board of Aldermen took the proposal under advisement at its Jan. 24 meeting.

Albany, which could handle two machines, tentatively has chosen a piece of land and will consider a Dean Machinery contract at the Board of Aldermans second February meeting.

This looks like a no lose-no risk situation, Albany city administrator Tom Lesnak told aldermen.

The commission worked up three scenarios for Albany, based on a mild, moderate or hot summer.

Even the worst scenario is still very attractive, Mr. Lesnak said.

During a mild summer, the city could bring in $25,352, while Dean Machinery might earn $143,660. A moderate summer would bring the city $30,752 and bring Dean Machinery $174,260. A hot summer would generate $65,130 for Albany and $370,100 for the company.

By this time next fall, well be able to find out if it was a good idea, Dan Wilder with Dean Machinery said. Were hoping the summer proves us out; we think this is the way to go for these cities.

The generators also can be used to provide electricity for each town if the grid that supplies power to the area fails.

Its an interesting opportunity, Mr. Grotzinger said. Theres still some things to be worked out, but it looks like it will work.

-- Sam (Wtrmkr52@aol.com), February 14, 2000

Answers

Here's the Link

-- Wilferd (WilferdW@aol.com), February 14, 2000.