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Power Generation
Algona Municipal Utilities Power Plant
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Algona’s original electric generation plant was located where the police station and city administrative offices now stand at the corner of Call and Hall Streets. By 1940, a study showed that a new power plant was needed to meet the expected increases in electric demand and future expansion. The new AMU power plant was opened in 1942. It was home to four engines with a total capacity of 2,864 kilowatts. New and bigger engines were added in 1947 and 1950. The power plant was enlarged in 1964 for the installation of a 3,200 kilowatt engine. In 1970, a 4,100 kilowatt engine was put into operation. By that time, the power plant housed seven dual-fired diesel/natural gas engines with a capacity of 13,504 kilowatts. In 1992, two new diesel fired Caterpillar engines were installed at the power plant. Today, the original engines in the plant have been retired and the plant has a capacity of 17,250 kilowatts. |
| Since 1979, Algona’s primary source of electricity comes from Neal 4, the low sulfur coal-fired electric generation plant located south of Sioux City, Iowa. Faced with skyrocketing costs of fuel due to the oil embargo in the early 1970's, the AMU Board of Trustees spent two years studying power supply options that included nuclear, gas and coal fired electricity. Neal 4 proved to be the best choice for current and future energy needs for Algona. Neal 4 is operated by MidAmerican Energy and they own the largest share of Neal 4. The remainder of the interest is owned by Algona Municipal Utilities and 11 other municipals, cooperatives, and investment-owned utilities. The plant capacity of Neal 4 is 644 MW's. AMU’s share is 2.937% or 18.91MW's. |
Neal 4 Power Plant
Sioux City
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At one time, a crew of 11 employees was needed to operate the AMU power plant, Today, six employees man the plant, working around-the-clock. However, with the primary use of Neal 4 power instead of running the local engines, employees focus on troubleshooting and monitoring the water, electric, and communications utility systems.
Did you know?
- One of Algona’s first 200 horsepower engines, purchased in 1917, was sold to a Cuban sugar mill in 1938. When the power plant was moved to its new location in 1942, two used diesel units were sold to the Army and shipped to Hawaii for the war efforts.
- The engineers who conducted the study of Algona’s new power plant proposed three sites other than the current location. They were the northeast corner of Central Park; an area at the corner of Phillips and Kennedy Streets near the present site of Lucia Wallace School; and an area at the corner of Phillips and South Streets near the current Fast Oil and Daily Grind businesses.
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