UAMPS Power County baseload power contract

Every hearing and vote

1. November 19, 2024 · City Council

   Workshop: Power County Power Project, Resolution 24-47

   Discussed

   Presented with 24-46: a 360-megawatt combined-cycle plant online in 2031 with a 31.35-megawatt subscription and baseload cost of $66 to $94 per megawatt-hour.

2. December 3, 2024 · City Council

   Power County baseload power contract, Resolution 24-47

   Continued · 5-0

   The proposal is a UAMPS 360-megawatt combined-cycle plant online in 2031 with a 31.35-megawatt subscription at a stated $69 per megawatt-hour, about $14.2 million a year or $284 million over 20 years. A motion by Council Members López and Johnson to deny failed 3-2, with Council Members Amy Anderson, Mark Anderson and Simmonds voting no on it. A motion by Mark Anderson to approve failed for lack of a second. The council then voted 5-0 to continue to January 7, 2025 and refer the item to the resource advisory board.

   Moved by Council Member Jeannie Simmonds, seconded by Council Member Mark Anderson. Vote: 5-0 to continue; an earlier motion to deny failed 3-2 (Council Members Amy Anderson, Mark Anderson and Jeannie Simmonds voting no)

3. January 7, 2025 · City Council

   Power County baseload power contract, Resolution 24-47 (public hearing, continued from December 3)

   Denied · 4-1

   Light & Power Director Mark Montgomery and Electric Resource Manager Yuqi Zhao said Logan needs about 30 megawatts of baseload, the UAMPS project is a 360-megawatt combined-cycle plant, and Logan sought at least 26 megawatts (recommending 26 to 30), at a cost of about $5 to $7 a month for the average residential customer. UAMPS CEO Easton Baker also addressed the council. Speakers including resource advisory board members Patrick Belmont and Paul Rogers, who said he was resigning from the board over the timing of the vote, raised concerns about methane emissions, financial risk and the 30-year commitment, favored renewables, nuclear, geothermal or hydro, and urged a delay; resource advisory board chair Nathaniel Whiteler supported staff's work and said carbon-free power is not yet technically available. A speaker noted UAMPS may not wait for the council. Council Members López and Johnson moved to deny, and it passed 4-1, with Council Member Mark Anderson voting no.

   Moved by Council Member Ernesto López, seconded by Council Member Mike Johnson. Vote: 4-1 on the motion to deny; Council Member Mark Anderson voted no

4. March 4, 2025 · City Council

   Workshop: future power needs and resources

   Discussed

   Resource advisory board chair Tyson Godfrey, Light & Power Board chair Nathanael Weidler and Electric Resource Manager Yuqi Zhao said the city needs more capacity, because the new regional day-ahead market requires capacity of 115 percent of forecast demand or financial penalties. The 2026 mix is 64 percent fossil fuel, 22 percent renewable and 14 percent market; peak load is 103 megawatts and minimum base load 56. Retirements include Sunnyside coal (about 5 MW, 2028), Hunter coal (13 MW, 2032) and Nebo gas (17 MW, 2044), and buying market power to cover a 40-megawatt deficit could cost $3 million to $8 million a year. Options: a 20 to 30 megawatt solar array at about $33 million before tax credit on about 100 acres, 30 megawatts of four-hour battery storage at about $25 million, or 15 to 20 megawatts from the Power County combined-cycle project, available around 2031. Council Member López raised diversification concerns; Weidler said solar and batteries cannot provide baseload and the city is not limited to UAMPS projects.

5. March 18, 2025 · City Council

   Workshop: Power County power sales contract with UAMPS, Resolution 25-12

   Discussed

   Montgomery said the project provides 15 megawatts, the minimum acceptable is 15 and 18 is preferred to replace retiring Sunnyside and Hunter power; the 30-megawatt offer is no longer available. Council members debated natural gas, baseload power and local air quality. Action was set for April 1.

6. April 1, 2025 · City Council

   Power County project power sales contract with UAMPS, Resolution 25-12 (public hearing)

   Approved · 4-1

   The council approved the contract for a share of the Power County combined-cycle project. Light & Power Director Mark Montgomery discussed 10 megawatts of solar and 5 megawatts of battery storage, a 3-megawatt geothermal share already acquired, a 15-megawatt solar feasibility study due July 15, a 20-year term, about 7 years to complete the plant, fixed costs of at least $100,000 a month if the plant sits idle (per Vice Chair Johnson), and penalties under the day-ahead market still being negotiated. Funding comes from the enterprise fund, not tax dollars. About 30 residents spoke, mostly against, citing contract length, climate and contract clauses; supporters included the Light & Power Board chair. Council Member López voted no, and he and Mark Anderson floated 10 and 18 megawatt alternatives.

   Moved by Council Member Amy Anderson, seconded by Council Member Mark Anderson. Vote: 4-1; Council Member Ernesto López voted no

7. December 2, 2025 · City Council

   Energy update

   Discussed

   Light & Power Resource Manager Tyson Godfrey reported a 100-megawatt peak load and a power shortfall until April 2026, with the regional day-ahead market going live May 1, 2026. Over three months the mix was 18 percent renewable, 58 percent dispatchable and 25 percent market. Sunnyside coal (5 MW) is permanently offline at no city payment, the Nebo gas plant runs at half capacity until April, and a 10-megawatt Sub 9 generator is targeted for April 2026. New firm resources include Fremont Solar and battery (10 MW solar, 5 MW battery, by December 2027), Millard County peaking (26.25 MW) and Power County gas (15 MW, by 2031). Potential resources include 8 megawatts of lagoon solar, a Cache County solar and storage project denied zoning by the county, and 2 megawatts of geothermal.