From the Ground Up: City Utilities Southwest Power Station Unit 2

Owner/Developer: City Utilities of Springfield

General contractor(s): Boldt Construction (Wisconsin), Cherne Contracting Corp. (Minnesota), Alberici Constructors Co. (St. Louis) and Sachs Electric Co. (Fenton)

Architect: Stanley Consultants (Iowa)

Engineers: Stanley Consultants

Size: 94,000 square feet

Estimated cost: $697.1 million

Lender: None

Estimated completion date: Late 2010

Project description: City Utilities is building a 300-megawatt coal-fired plant to supplement other plants in the city because of growing electricity needs. Joel Alexander, communications manager for CU, said the Southwest 2 Power Station is financed through 30-year bonds, which customers will begin paying back through a rate increase in October 2010. According to www.cityutilities.net, the benefit of a local plant will lead to less volatile rates, compared to buying from the wholesale electric market. The coal plant will use emissions-reducing technologies, including those for mercury controls, and it will be more reliable because of its proximity to customers, officials have said. The project began in 2006.Springfield Business Journal brings you new projects each week. Send project info by fax to (417) 799-0603 or by e-mail to sbj@sbj.net.