Columbia examines energy resources

Mounting environmental concerns and aging equipment at the Columbia Municipal Power Plant have turned conversations to the future, which might include retiring some of the city’s turbines or using additional resources.

Learn about some of Columbia's options for renewable energy resources:

• Wind Power:  The city purchased, through Associated Electric Cooperative Inc., a portion of the energy generated since September 2007 at the Bluegrass Ridge Wind Farm in northwest Missouri. The contract calls for Columbia to receive 11 percent of the total output of the farm.
• Biomass:  Columbia is interested in burning alternative fuels at the Municipal Power Plant in combination with coal like switch grass and other agricultural products, including corn stover, Indian grass and bluestem grasses.
• And others including solar power and methane from landfill projects.

Click here to read the package.