City of Columbia Utilities adds solar field to renewable energy portfolio

(COLUMBIA, MO) - Columbia Water & Light continues to expand its renewable energy portfolio through a power purchase agreement to receive energy from the Truman Solar facility, a 10-megawatt solar farm that came online May 7, 2021.

The facility, which is owned and operated by Truman Solar LLC, is situated south of Interstate 70 and east of Burnside Drive. The solar farm has 35,019 modules over a 90.28-acre area. The 10-megawatt facility is expected to produce 23,567 megawatt-hours during its first 12 months of operation.

The City of Columbia entered a 30-year agreement to purchase the power from the Truman Solar field at the price of $44.82 per megawatt-hour.

"With the addition of Truman Solar, we are another step closer to meeting the renewable energy goals of current ordinances," Director of Utilities David Sorrell said. "This resource will provide local, renewable energy to the City of Columbia."

In November 2004, residents of Columbia approved an ordinance for the City to increase its renewable power supply portfolio. The renewable energy ordinance was revised by the Columbia City Council on Jan. 6, 2014, to increase the required amounts of renewable energy. According to the standard, the City is required to generate or purchase electricity from eligible renewable energy sources at 25% by Dec. 31, 2022.

Columbia Water & Light purchased or generated 15.41% of its electric retail usage through renewable sources in 2020, which exceeded the amount required by the ordinance.

The Truman Solar agreement will contribute to Water & Light's progress toward climate goals supported by the 2019 Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, which lays out a vision to address risks posed by climate change and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the city.