–Algona Municipal Utilities will receive $2 Million in grant funding to help cover the costs of a project to make their electrical system less susceptible to extreme weather events. The money comes from the Iowa Economic Development Authority, in conjunction with the United States Department of Energy, as part of an Electric Grid Resiliency Project. AMU General Manager John Bilsten tells KLGA News this money will cover over half of the project’s costs.
The work to convert overhead lines to underground will begin near the AMU power plant on North Hall Street.
Bilsten says they will be upgrading these areas because AMU has already converted most of the overhead lines to underground in neighborhoods, backyards, and alleyways across Algona.
The AMU Board of Trustees approved a grant agreement during their meeting this past week, as work to secure this funding began over a year ago.
The $2 Million grant will help offset most of the $3.4 Million project cost. To address flood risks, pad-mount switches and transformers will be installed above the floodplain, and all underground cables will be waterproof and encased in conduit.
