CFU Customers Benefit from Abundant Iowa Wind Energy

Sixty-five percent of the energy produced in the regional power market and distributed in Cedar Falls in 2022 was generated by renewable resources. 

Iowa leads the country with most wind plus solar generation per square mile of land with 806.7 megawatt-hours with Rhode Island coming in second with 626.7 megawatt-hours.

This renewable energy generated across the state benefits CFU customers even though all of the solar panels or wind turbines aren't located in Cedar Falls.

Most of the electricity used in Cedar Falls is purchased through a regional energy market. The market is administered by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO).

Think of the MISO energy market like a giant pool. The energy generated by nearly all of the wind turbines solar panels and fossil fuel plants in Iowa flows into the MISO power market pool daily. 

This includes our local Streeter Station power plant natural gas turbines solar array and our share of large power plants in western Iowa.

Members also purchase energy out of the pool to meet their communities' daily electric needs. Today that energy is largely renewable. Energy produced from renewable resources is up from just twenty-six percent ten years ago.

CFU is supportive of the wind and solar energy available in Iowa today and welcomes future additions. The electric utility has made investments to upgrade transmission lines and substations and in joint owned projects across the state to support renewable energy. 

While the energy market shifts to renewable technology controllable fuel-based generation continues to be important to ensure customers have reliable energy when they need it. Wind and solar are weather dependent and may not be available when demand is at its peak.

We are doing our part by preserving traditional generation and investigating new resources that can help facilitate a smart transition to renewable energy.