Logan council approves 15 MW share in Power County power project after hours-long public hearing

The Logan Municipal Council voted to approve a 20‑year power sales contract for a 15‑megawatt (MW) share of the proposed Power County power project after an extended public hearing that drew more than 50 speakers and divided public comment.

Supporters — including local business owners and some residents — told the council the contract would reduce the city’s exposure to volatile open‑market prices and help replace retiring coal‑fired capacity. “We had to go out on the open market and that resulted in about a $90,000 a month surcharge for us as a business,” said Scott Nelson of Shireworks, urging the council to secure supply that keeps energy costs and outages down.

Opponents — including students, parents and public‑health advocates — urged the council to reject a long‑term commitment to fossil fuels and pursue renewables and storage instead. “Signing on to a long‑term commitment to fossil fuel energy source will mean missed opportunities to take advantage of affordable, reliable, clean energy sources in the future,” said Mary Anne Christian, a Logan resident who helped lead a 2016 student resolution urging a shift to renewables.

Council discussion picked up after the hearing. Council members and staff said the decision balances two policy goals: moving toward more renewable energy while ensuring reliable power as several regional coal units are scheduled to retire. City power staff and the Renewable Energy Board previously presented a joint analysis showing that a mix — local solar plus some dispatchable generation — eases reliability risks under the Western grid’s impending extended day‑ahead market (EDAM) requirements.

Councilmember Amy moved approval of the resolution to participate at 15 MW; the motion was seconded and a roll‑call style voice vote produced a majority in favor and one recorded dissent. The motion passed.

The council and staff said the city will continue pursuing renewables and battery projects, including a local feasibility study for a minimum 15‑MW solar-plus‑storage project scheduled to return to the council in July. City staff also said they remain in talks with other regional suppliers and will pursue additional renewable purchases as they become available.

The council framed the vote as a pragmatic step to avoid short‑term market exposure while preserving flexibility to buy more renewables if prices and transmission allow. Several commenters asked the council to consider shorter contract lengths; council members said the 20‑year power‑purchase term and a 20‑year bond schedule were negotiated with those tradeoffs in mind.

The council’s action does not immediately change Logan’s retail rates; staff said any future rate adjustments or surcharges would follow the city’s normal budgeting and rate‑study processes.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution approving participation in Power County power project (15 MW share): moved by Amy (motion), seconded; voice roll call produced a majority “aye,” one recorded “no”; outcome: approved.

Next steps

City staff will continue pursuing additional renewable purchases, advance the local solar feasibility work scheduled for July, and return to the council with related implementation details and any recommended rate impacts.