Lehi breaks ground on new power generation facility
Lehi Mayor Bert Wilson puts his shovel into the dirt after posing for a picture during a groundbreaking for the Lehi Power Department's new power generation facility Monday, April 17, 2017 in Lehi. ISAAC HALE, Daily Herald
Joel Eves, director of Lehi City's Power Department, speaks during a groundbreaking for the Lehi Power Department's new power generation facility on Monday, April 17, 2017, in Lehi. ISAAC HALE, Daily Herald
Bart Miller, a line crew foreman who will work at the new generation facility when it is finished, claps as a speaker finishes their remarks during a groundbreaking for the Lehi Power Department's new power generation facility Monday, April 17, 2017 in Lehi. ISAAC HALE, Daily Herald
Johnny Revill, second from right, a Lehi City Council member, shovels dirt along with other attendees during a groundbreaking for the Lehi Power Department's new power generation facility Monday, April 17, 2017 in Lehi. ISAAC HALE, Daily Herald
Joel Eves, Director of Lehi City's Power Department, jokes around after shoveling dirt with other attendees during a groundbreaking for the Lehi Power Department's new power generation facility Monday, April 17, 2017 in Lehi. ISAAC HALE, Daily Herald
Lehi Mayor Bert Wilson dons a hardhat during a groundbreaking for the Lehi Power Department's new power generation facility Monday, April 17, 2017 in Lehi. ISAAC HALE, Daily Herald
Stephen Green, General Manager of power systems for Wheeler Machinery, speaks during a groundbreaking for the Lehi Power Department's new power generation facility Monday, April 17, 2017 in Lehi. ISAAC HALE, Daily Herald
Betty Anderson, right, speaks as Karen Singson stands by during a groundbreaking for the Lehi Power Department's new power generation facility Monday, April 17, 2017 in Lehi. Anderson is a granddaughter and Singson is a great-granddaughter of the 25th Mayor of Lehi, Joseph S. Broadbent, who acted as mayor from 1922-1927. ISAAC HALE, Daily Herald
Bart Miller, a line crew foreman who will work at the generation facility when it is finished, listens to a speaker during a groundbreaking for the Lehi Power Department's new power generation facility Monday, April 17, 2017 in Lehi. ISAAC HALE, Daily Herald
Attendees including Lehi Mayor Bert Wilson, third from left, pose for a picture after shoveling dirt during a groundbreaking for the Lehi Power Department's new power generation facility Monday, April 17, 2017 in Lehi. ISAAC HALE, Daily Herald
Monday was a gorgeous day for a groundbreaking, and the Lehi City Council and staff enjoyed it as they kicked off the construction of the new Lehi Power Generation Facility.
The power facility, located near 560 W. Glen Carter Drive in Lehi, will be an internal generation facility and operations center for Lehi Power, housing three generators.
“This will be one of the cleanest plants in Utah,” said Joel Eves, director of Lehi Power.
The generation facility will initially be able to power about 1,000 Lehi homes, or about 5 percent of Lehi residents. Lehi currently has about 20,000 power customers.
“At the rate we’re growing, we wanted a way to help us with the power needed for our city,” said Cameron Boyle, assistant to the city administrator. “This helps offset the cost of power we’re purchasing from other sources, and during our peak times, in July and August when everyone is using their air conditioners, we want to have our own ability to generate power to offset the need.”
The project has been in the works for about seven years, Boyle said. Bid proposals went out in June 2016 and were awarded soon thereafter. The city anticipates construction completion by about April 2018.
The project will cost $20 million, $9 million of which goes to the power generation portion of the facility. The city is purchasing the facility through a 20-year bond. Boyle said the facility has room to expand, and will eventually be able to power more than 3,000 homes.
When finished, the Lehi Power Department anticipates the facility will have a sound decibel rating of <55 dB at the perimeter fence which, according to a press release, is comparable to a conversation in a restaurant or office, background music, or an air conditioning unit 100 feet away.
The city estimates it will cost $50.73 per megawatt to operate the facility, while current costs to purchase megawatts can vary anywhere from $20 to $300, depending on demand. The total power used in Lehi in 2016 was 330,635 megawatt hours.
“It’s going to be a great thing for Lehi. It’ll save residents money,” said Lehi Mayor Bert Wilson.
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