Prairie Land Electric Cooperative Inc. has been awarded $1,130,490 from the Building a Stronger Economy (BASE) grant program. The cooperative applied for the grant to help fund Project Summit, an electrical infrastructure expansion project to support the electrical distribution needs of the Prairie Horizon Ethanol Plant east of Phillipsburg, Kan.
Prairie Horizon is transforming the existing corn ethanol plant (Prairie Horizon Agri-Energy) into an expanded wheat processing, vital wheat gluten extraction and low carbon fuel production business.
As approved by the Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Executive Committee, the BASE grant program is intended to alleviate ongoing adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of $100 million was allocated to the program by the committee.
Eligible applicants included local governments, economic development organizations, local chambers of commerce and other stakeholders. The Department of Commerce received 446 applications requesting a total of $1.8 billion. Prairie Land Electric was one of just 35 applicants that were awarded grants. Investments that created long-term systemic impacts were given priority.
Project Summit is expected to create such impacts. Prairie Horizon’s transition from corn ethanol to wheat processing will provide significant economic development to the area, adding approximately 50 jobs, enhancing domestic food product development, and generating low-carbon fuel.
Project Summit will require about four times more energy capacity than is currently available. As such, Prairie Land Electric will invest in additional electrical infrastructure to provide sufficient power capacity for the expansion project.
“While these upgrades are required for Project Summit, they will also provide excess load capacity for other growth and economic development in the area,” said Prairie Land CEO Kirk Girard. “This capacity will allow Prairie Land Electric to connect other 34.5 kV circuits, providing redundancy and increased reliability to Phillipsburg and nearby communities, positioning them nicely for future growth.”
The total cost for Project Summit is estimated at $1,536,816. Prairie Land Electric will provide a $406,326 match to the $1.1 million awarded grant.
Among the 35 BASE grant recipients in Kansas, the $100 million awarded generates an additional $889.6 million in matching investments by public and private stakeholders. The projects must be completed within two years, and funds will be provided in 50 percent installments each year.
“We are honored to be chosen to receive this grant,” added Girard. “This is truly a blessing for our local economy, and the grant funds, in conjunction with the additional baseload from this project, will reduce the burden on our membership, benefitting the entire region we serve.”