MPUA breaks ground on Fulton Energy Center
The Missouri Public Utility Alliance (MPUA) is constructing a new $52.5 million natural gas-powered generation center in Fulton, Missouri, called the Fulton Energy Center. This project aims to boost the region's electricity capacity by nearly 15 megawatts and is expected to come online by December 2027. State officials clarified that this specific plant is a peaker plant designed for general community use and will not be used to power data centers.
The Missouri Public Utility Alliance (MPUA) has broken ground on the Fulton Energy Center, a $52.5 million natural gas power generation facility in Fulton, Missouri. This center, part of a larger $225 million Northeast Generation Project including sites in Hannibal, is projected to increase electric capacity by 14.9 to 16.4 megawatts. MPUA CEO Steve Stodden noted it would provide approximately 40 percent of Fulton's power needs on the hottest days, with the plant expected to operate for 50 years and come online by December 2027.
Missouri Department of Natural Resources Director Kurt Schaefer emphasized the project's importance for state energy independence, as Missouri currently imports about one-fifth of its energy. He explicitly stated that the Fulton Energy Center is a peaker plant intended to ensure reliable power for homes, schools, and hospitals, and will not be used to power data centers, despite ongoing state-level discussions about data center development.
Rep. Jim Schulte, R-New Bloomfield, a member of the House of Representatives Utilities Committee, highlighted that reliable electricity supply is a top concern for companies considering Missouri for relocation. Fulton Utilities Superintendent Darrell Dunlap explained that the city's utility board and city council had approved a long-term agreement to purchase power from the project, addressing a critical capacity shortage and bolstering local power generation.