UI eyes $75 million west side power plant

IOWA CITY — The University of Iowa wants to build a new $75 million West Campus Energy Plant to provide reliable services on the other side of the Iowa River — particularly to the UI Hospitals and Clinics, its new $292 million Children's Hospital scheduled to open in a year, and nearby research facilities.

'Campus growth … and lessons learned from the 2008 flood make addressing long-term basic campus utility services imperative,' according to documents outlining the proposed project.

UI officials next week will ask the Board of Regents to approve the project and allow them to proceed with planning and design. The new plant, as proposed, would be built northwest of the Finkbine Commuter Lot, which sits southwest of Hawkins Drive by the UI's Finkbine Golf Course. It's estimated cost of $75 million would be paid for using utility system revenue bonds, according to regent documents.

The project would provide 'critically important redundancy and future growth options' away from the Iowa River and near the UI Health Care complex through a 'combined heat and power' facility capable of delivering 150 kilopounds per hour of steam to campus. It would have a capacity of 300 kilopounds per hour, according to project documents, and it could provide backup electricity in the event of a MidAmerican Energy power failure.

Right now, the university has a total steam generating capacity of 605 kilopounds per hour, including 480 at the main power plant, 40 within the UIHC complex, and 85 at a temporary west side plant that has housed two provisional steam boilers since the 2008 flood devastated the campus.

All steam services for the UIHC complex and other west side facilities rely on the UI's Main Power Plant, which was built in 1929 immediately east of the Iowa River, making it particularly susceptible to flooding despite 'substantial efforts undertaken to protect it.'

The main plant is landlocked, built out and offers limited options for long-term growth or modernization, UI officials report. The temporary west side plant is nearing then end of its life span and sits too near medical buildings to meet emissions standards on a permanent basis.

'The Main Power Plant's location also creates distribution risk, as current steam lines must cross the river to reach UIHC and the west campus,' according to UI documents.

During 2008 flooding, UI officials had to power down its main plant to avoid structural damage, forcing it to rely on backup units for essential services like those at the hospitals and clinics.

'Developing two geographically dispersed plants will provide a higher level of protection against natural disaster risks,' according to the documents.

In addition to protecting patient care services and supporting research facilities, steam produced through a new west side plant also would help heat residence halls, classrooms, and office space throughout campus.

'This is a 100 year investment in a utility system that will provide the redundancy and reliability necessary to take care of the long-term demands of our campus,' said Rod Lehnertz, interim vice president of finance and operations and director of planning, design, and construction for UI Facilities Management.

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