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Ames approves major contracts for Municipal Energy Center, including three engines
Summary
Council approved contracts for a step-up transformer (greater than $2 million) and the purchase and installation of three large engines for the Ames Municipal Energy Center; the combined engine contract was described in the podcast as "north of $70,000,000," and the project is framed as the multi-year first phase to retire boilers and shift away from waste-to-energy.
The Ames City Council on July 28 approved major contracts to build the Ames Municipal Energy Center, including purchase of a step-up transformer and three engines that will form the core of the new generation system. Mayor John Halah described the transformer contract as having an amount "north of $2,000,000" and the engine package as totaling "north of dollars 70,000,000." "This is a once in a century project," Halah said, noting the city’s power plant has operated for well over 100 years.
Halah explained engines are complex systems that include stacks, cooling and control systems, shipping from overseas, installation and multi-year service contracts. The contract award covers tariffs, exchange rates and taxes tied to international equipment procurement. He said the Energy Center represents the first phase toward retiring boilers at the power plant and shifting from the city’s historical waste-to-energy model toward cleaner natural gas generation alongside investments in solar and wind.
Council members framed the work as a long-term infrastructure investment, with equipment intended to serve the community for decades; Halah noted the major construction work for some related projects is not expected to occur until around 2028. The podcast recap did not include vote tallies or the exact contract vendors; staff materials and council action forms will contain the formal contract documents and financial details.
