City casts its fate to wind again

OTTAWA – Once again, the city of Ottawa will cast part of its fate to the wind – wind power. City utilities director Dennis Tharp successfully urged commissioners to buy wind power from the Buckeye Wind Farm being built near Hays. The cost of wind power at the moment is very low and now is the time to lock in prices before the price of electrictiy goes up, as it will, Tharp said. “Offer on the prices is absolutely as good as we can ask for,” Tharp said. The city could buy 5 to 10 megawatts of power from the wind farm. The city has an existing agreement to buy power from the new Marshall County Wind Farm in north-central Kansas. Tharp said he’s been trying to broaden the city’s sources of power with an eye to expanded demand once the new Proximity Park industrial site fully develops. The city is also looking at replacing its aging Stag steam-powered generator at the city power plant, he said.
Friday, Nov. 3, 8:30 a.m.