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MLGW says Goodlett Farms control center acquisition will anchor grid modernization
Summary
MLGW told council it closed on Goodlett Farms for $27 million and plans resilient control-room and data-center build-out; Smith & Nephew is leasing C-wing for two years and MLGW will develop the A/B wings (control center, emergency operations, data center) targeting initial operability of grid modernization systems by Jan. 1, 2029.
MLGW briefed the council on the Goodlett Farms facility it closed on Dec. 1, 2025 for $27 million, below the previously authorized $31.5M cap. Doug McGowan described a three-wing building: the C-wing is leased to Smith & Nephew for two years (option for a third); A-wing will house an emergency operations center (EOC) with crisis-action offices and a press briefing area; B-wing will host the resilient control center (SCADA, outage management, distribution automation) and a raised-floor data center to protect servers and network equipment. MLGW staff said engineers are doing detailed design and project scheduling anticipates about 12 weeks of detailed planning, 36 weeks of design and 16 weeks of pre-construction moving toward buildout targeted over 2027–28 and initial system capability by Jan. 1, 2029. McGowan noted leasing income from Smith & Nephew will offset operations while design and construction proceed and described the facility as central to the utility’s grid modernizion plan. Council members asked about lease terms, tenant separation and transition of maintenance duties; MLGW said maintenance responsibility transfers to MLGW at the agreed date and that the lease provides separate entrances for tenant and MLGW operations.
Provenance: presentation by MLGW on control center acquisition and timeline (SEG 168–SEG 290).
