Coldwater Board of Public Utilities to Buy Capacity from Peaking Plant

by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
March 14, 2023

The Coldwater, Mich., City Council recently approved a power sales contract and supplemental agreement under which the Coldwater Board of Public Utilities will purchase up to seven and a half megawatts of capacity from a peaking plant.

Coldwater is looking to install a 7.5-MW diesel generator behind-the-meter at one of its distribution substations, Andrew Cameron, Engineering Manager at Coldwater Board of Public Utilities, told Public Power Current.

The goal of the project is twofold – first, for resource adequacy with MISO and the state, and the other is increased reliability for the utility’s customers, Cameron noted. 

The generator is black start capable and would be able to backfeed a substation that serves roughly half of the residential customers of Coldwater.

The unit is schedule to be in service the summer of 2024 and the utility has entered into a related agreement with American Municipal Power.

Coldwater is a member of the Michigan South Central Power Agency along with three other member communities. Coldwater is also a member of AMP, a joint action agency that has 133 members across multiple states.