Kansas City Board of Public Utilities (BPU) has announced the signing of a 25 year power purchase accord with the Bowersock Mills and Power (BPMC) to buy 7 MW of electricity generated from its proposed hydroelectric power generation facility.
The agreement will enable BPU to supplement its renewable energy resources in its current power mix.
As specified in an accord signed during last year, BMPC, as a part of its plant expansion program, will commence construction of an extra powerhouse at the present location to increase its power production capability by three fold. The low-impact hydropower plant when becomes fully operational will generate around 33,000 MWh of clean power every year, which can be equated to the power produced by utilizing 188 railcar loads of coal. The power generated from the facility will meet the electricity requirements of nearly 3,300 homes in Wyandotte County and offset carbon dioxide emissions to the level of 44,000 tons.
The new power generation facility will benefit the local community, clients of BPU and the utility company. Unlike the other unpredictable wind and solar energy sources, the clean hydro power source will supply guaranteed and stable clean energy for the subsequent 25 years.