CU hits new high for renewable energy

City Utilities of Springfield has hit a new high in use of renewable energy sources.

Officials with the utility company say 45% of power this year came from renewable energy, such as wind and solar. The remainder came through market purchases and traditional coal and natural gas generation, according to a news release.

Chris Jones, associate general manager of electric supply and delivery, said CU did not add any new renewable resources during fiscal 2020. Rather, wind resources performed well and the utility company had lower coal generation, he said.

“We would expect the percentage to remain around 45% moving forward," Jones said. "Our focus has been and continues to be to provide the most reliable and affordable energy to our customers with a focus on responsibility."

Jones said a goal beyond 45% renewable energy hasn't been set. But he noted additions in renewable energy sources likely would be needed after a John Twitty Energy Center unit is retired in the late 2020s. It's currently set to expire in 2027 under CU's integrated resource plan, he said.

CU hit a previous goal of 40% renewables in 2018, when it added 100 megawatts of power purchased from Enel Green Power's wind farm near Salina, Kansas, according to past Springfield Business Journal reporting.