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Council clears amendments to WAPA energy contract and renews REC administration for MMU
Summary
The Marshall City Council approved amendments to the firm energy service contract with Western Area Power Administration to address a prior meter provision and DEI compliance and authorized continued administration of renewable energy certificates (REX) via Missouri River Energy Services.
Marshall City Council approved a set of amendments to the firm energy service contract with the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) and confirmed administration arrangements for renewable energy certificates (REX) used by Marshall Municipal Utilities (MMU).
Pete Wiffles, general manager of MMU, told the council that the city has purchased roughly 24% of its power from hydroelectric sources under a long-term WAPA contract dating to 1958 and that the city extended firm energy service in 2012 through 2050. He described three items before council: (1) a housekeeping amendment deleting a meter-maintenance provision that had already been implemented; (2) a change to paragraph 44 of the general power contract provisions to bring the agreement into compliance with federal anti-discrimination/DEI requirements; and (3) a new REX-contract update permitting acquisitions, resale and administration of renewable energy certificates and authorizing Missouri River Energy Services (MRES) to administer MMU's allotted REX.
On the REX program, Wiffles explained that a REX is produced and delivered by green generation sources (one REX per megawatt-hour) and that MMU participates in MRES's aggregate energy-choice program. "We currently have been doing that, but this just brings us up to date with everything," Wiffles said, describing the updated contract that would allow MRES to manage, retire, and report REX on the city's behalf.
Council members asked clarifying questions about which resources generate REX, and Wiffles confirmed solar, wind and hydro all produce certificates that are accounted for in the REX program. Council then moved, seconded and voted to approve the contract amendments and related REX-administration arrangements; the motion passed (vote tally not specified in the transcript).
The council-recorded action brings the firm energy contract and REX-administration arrangement into alignment with current federal requirements and regional program practices, according to MMU staff. The meeting record did not include contract-execution dates or detailed budget impacts for the amendments.
