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Beaver City Council approves contracts for two regional power projects
Summary
Beaver City voted Nov. 25 to approve two resolutions joining regional power‑sales contracts for a 200 MW peaker in Millard County and a larger combined‑cycle plant; councilors approved signing pending counsel opinion letters and landowner negotiations for potential leases.
Beaver City Council on Nov. 25 approved two resolutions authorizing participation in regional power‑sales contracts for projects in Millard and Power counties.
Council read and approved Resolution 11252024a, authorizing the Millard County Power Project power‑sales contract with UAMPS; the council then approved Resolution 11252024b for the Power County (combined‑cycle) project. Both motions passed on roll call votes with councilors Owen Spencer, Lance Cox, Tyler Skeena, Allison Webb and Randy Hunter recorded as voting "yes." Mayor and council then signed the adopted documents.
City staff described the Millard project as a 200‑megawatt peaker with an anticipated completion in 2029 and a proposed combined‑cycle plant of roughly 360 megawatts with a later completion projection (staff referenced 2031 in the presentation). A staff speaker warned that pre‑development costs — including two transmission studies (one for the peaker and one for the combined cycle) — will incur pro‑rata obligations for participant cities even if a project is later deemed infeasible. "The completion date on the peaker is 2029," the staff speaker said, and staff repeatedly emphasized the projects will be managed through a project management committee for monthly updates.
Councilors and staff discussed capacity figures and city allocations (several staff numbers cited, including base‑load recommendations around 2.55–2.87 MW for city share) and noted that projected EV charging growth influenced preference for greater base‑load capacity. Staff also told the council that a Millard County landowner prefers to lease rather than sell; the city may start with a lease with an option to purchase, and condemnation was described as a last resort.
The council asked that outside counsel (Justin) provide opinion letters for both projects on Beaver City's behalf before final administrative steps; staff said those opinion letters will be obtained and provided to the mayor and council. No new dollar appropriation was voted at the meeting; staff said there would be no city cash outlay until the plants are operational other than the city’s pro‑rata study and predevelopment costs.
Next steps: councilors authorized the resolutions and directed staff to secure counsel opinion letters, work with the project management committee on monthly updates and continue landowner discussions including lease documentation when required.
