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F Sunday, March 30, 2008 • The hayS daily newS Progress 2008
A better life for everyone
Turbines destined
for the Midwest
Energy’s Goodman
Energy Center sit on
rail cars on the south Progress, as defined in
end of Hays on a Webster’s New World Diction-
snowy day in Febru- ary of the English Language, is
“to advance toward perfection
ary. Midwest expects or to a higher state.” I do believe
the plant, which will that, as a community, we took
provide energy when significant steps toward a higher
demand peaks, to be state in 2007.
partially operational The United Way of Ellis
this summer. County continued its transfor-
mation from providing social
service to investing community
funds in social change. Simply Sue RouSe
United Way of Ellis County
put, the dollars you invest in your
community through the annual munity to a higher state. Your
United Way campaign will do investment will not only ensure
more than support the programs a program for today but a better
and services that care for the community for tomorrow.
individuals and families in our The United Way also has
community. Your investment will begun a partnership with the
address the core issues that keep Heartland Community Founda-
sTeven hausler our community and its citizens tion. With a commitment to the
hays daily news from perfection. Founder’s Campaign, as well as
Close your eyes. Imagine a a commitment to open an orga-
Midwest will flip the switch this summer
perfect community. What would nizational account, the United
it look like? Would no one be Way is investing in the future of
abused? Would every family have our community.
the financial security to meet Together, with a common
its basis needs? Would children vision, both organizations have
have fun while learning? Would a direction for the future. This
By MIKE CORN about $16.3 million spread across All of Midwest’s electricity watts when it is built.” seniors be healthy and active? vision will guide immediate as
mcorn@dailynews.net those employees, for an average comes off the grid, much of it Simply, Helm said, Midwest The list would only be limited by well as future community invest-
It currently produces virtually wage of about $22 an hour. through long-term contracts with needs that power to “keep the our capacity to see our commu- ments. It ensures steady progress
no electricity and extracts no Over the course of 2006 Westar Energy and its Jeffrey lights on.” nity at a higher state. to a better community.
natural gas from the ground, yet — the latest figures available Energy Center. As well, it will provide eco- With your help, the United Progress is the advancement
each day nearly 90,000 custom- — Midwest had total revenues “We do get some from Sun- nomic development benefits to Way will develop a vision for our toward perfection; a better life
ers rely upon it for those services. of $147.5 million. Electricity ac- flower at Holcomb,” he said. western Kansas, although most community; a vision that reflects for everyone who lives and works
Each year, customers pay nearly counted for the bulk of that, with Many of Midwest’s contracts of it will be in the southwest part our basic principles and ad- in Ellis County It won’t hap-
$147 million for the gas and $103.5 million; natural gas had will be expiring over the new few of the state. vances the common good. That pen quickly but it will happen.
electricity it supplies. revenues of $44 million. years, and the company has been Midwest is also building its vision will guide the investment And everyone who lives in Ellis
It, in this case, is Hays-based Over the course of the year, working to replace them. own natural gas power plant to of community funds so, that County will benefit.
Midwest Energy, a retail supplier Helm said Midwest provided 1.2 Helm cautioned that replac- the northwest of Hays. through research-based pro- Sue Rouse is executive director
of electricity and natural gas. billion kilowatt hours of electric- ing those long-term contracts The Goodman Energy Center grams, we can bring our com- of United Way of Ellis County.
The company has slightly ity to its retail customers. The — many with shorter-term will produce peaking power
more than 46,000 electrical cus- only, and should be partially in
average customer would use contracts — will result in higher
tomers in northwest and central operation this summer. That
about 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity rates.
Kansas, according to Midwest
spokesman Bob Helm. Midwest electricity a month. Midwest has already reached
facility will produce 75 mega-
watts of electricity when it is fully
Ellis County’s top employers
also has another 41,000 natural Total supplies, Helm said, an agreement to purchase 75 operational. 1. Hays Medical Center: 15. High Plains Mental
gas customers, some of whom amounted to 1.3 billion kilo- megawatts of power from one Midwest has also purchased 1,149 Health: 150
— Bunker Hill and Pawnee watt hours for residential and of the new Sunflower Electric almost 50 megawatts of power 2. Hays USD 489: 764 16. Midwest Energy: 113
Rock, for example — are new to wholesale customers serviced by power plants that are slated for generated by wind turbines in 3. Fort Hays State Univer- 17. Wheelchairs of Kansas:
the system. Midwest. construction at Holcomb. Lincoln and Ellsworth coun- sity: 737 105
All told, Midwest Energy now For retail customers, the aver- That project, however, is on 4. Wal-Mart: 420 18. Hess Services: 82
ties. Power from that wind farm
age cost of electricity amounted hold pending resolution of a 5. N.E.W.: 373 19. APAC: 77
has about 88,000 customers. will be transferred on Midwest
to 7.7 cents per kilowatt hour. permitting process in Topeka. 6. Adronics/Elrob: 300 20. Cross Manufacturing: 61
“Some of them are dual transmission lines to Midwest, 7. EnerSys: 223 20. Glassman Corp: 61
customers, electricity and gas,” Natural gas prices fluctuate There, regulators denied the Sunflower and the Kansas City 8. Eagle Communications: 22. Home Depot: 92
Helm said. with the markets. permit, but the case is before Board of Public Utilities. 239 23. Ellis USD 388: 90
Currently, Midwest serves Helm said Midwest Energy the Kansas Supreme Court and In addition to its Hays 9. DSNWK: 323 24. TMP-Marion High
customers in all or part of 41 pays property taxes in each of the Legislature is trying to pass a headquarters, Midwest has 10. Ellis County: 212 School: 125
central and western Kansas the 41 counties that it serves. bill that would force the Kansas offices in seven other communi- 11. City of Hays: 198 25. Holiday Inn: 90
counties. Last year, that amounted to Department of Health and Envi- ties, Atwood, Colby, Scott City, 12. Nex-Tech/Nex-Tech 26. S.W. Supply: 52
As of the first of the year, $4.9 million, up 10.2 percent ronment to issue the permit. Hoxie, WaKeeney, Phillipsburg Wireless: 179 27. Hays Daily News: 64
Midwest had 269 employees from the $4.5 million paid in ’06. “We want Holcomb to be and Great Bend. 13. St. John’s of Hays, Vic- 28. Victoria USD 432: 61
— about 100 of them located in As far as electricity, Midwest is built,” Helm said. “The only “We have employees in virtu- toria Assisted: 197 Source: Ellis County Coalition for
Hays. only a retailer. thing we have is a signed con- ally every county that we serve,” 14. A-1 Plank & Scaffold: 116 Economic Development, 2007
Midwest had a payroll of At least for now. tract that we will buy 75 mega- Helm said.
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