Mid-Kansas Electric Company To Build Generation Station In Grant County

Rubart Station to be Comprised of Multiple Reciprocating Engine Natural Gas Units

Mid-Kansas Electric Company LLC will build an electric generating station located 13 miles east of Ulysses, Kan., in Grant County. The board of directors voted recently to name the station after Perry Rubart, a long time trustee from Ulysses-based Pioneer Electric Cooperative Inc.

Planning and permitting efforts are underway for the project, comprised of twelve natural gas reciprocating engines designed by Caterpillar Power Generation Systems. Construction of the station, a nominal 110 megawatt facility, is expected to commence in early 2013 with the completion anticipated in April 2014.

Rubart Station will be the first installation of Caterpillar’s new G20CM34 generator sets. The 20-cylinder, natural gas-fueled reciprocating engine generator sets feature high availability, long life, low fuel consumption, and low maintenance requirements. Burns & McDonnell is providing engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services for the Rubart Station project.

“The Mid-Kansas board of directors has been, and will continue to be, visionary in seeking ways to best fulfill our mission of providing reliable, affordable energy to our members and those they serve,” said Stuart Lowry, president and CEO of Mid-Kansas. “History has shown the merits of having a balanced generation portfolio, so we know Rubart Station will further enhance our current fleet of generation resources.”

The selection of Grant County for the approximately $130M project was based on several factors: proximity to adequate transmission, a competitive natural gas supply, and the need for voltage resources to support substantial load growth and wind generation in the area.

“Our members will see multiple advantages when Rubart Station comes to fruition,” said Lowry. “Along with being incorporated into our existing generation fleet to meet our growing load, this type of generation resource has a fast start capability, allowing for quick response to market conditions and our system’s growing integration of wind energy.”

“Having this station bear my name is certainly an honor, one that I didn’t expect,” said Rubart. “It is an especially humbling honor since it came from my colleagues for whom I have utmost respect for their dedication to their members and adherence to the cooperative principles.”