In August 2000, fire destroyed five of the eight diesel engine generators at the Municipal Power Plant in Russell, KS, resulting in a loss of 13.2 megawatts of electric generation.  Fortunately, Russell's Electric Department was able to restore electric service to the City within three hours.  At the request of the City, SKW met with City officials and explored several power generation options.  These discussions and studies led to SKW's recommendation for a gas turbine/generation energy center.

SKW was involved in all aspects of the project: removal of the previous power plant and warehouse; preliminary and final design of the new system control building; development of the heat recovery system; and purchase and installation of equipment.  The Russell Energy Center is a state-of-the-art energy complex that includes two gas turbines generating a total of 14 megawatts of electricity for the City and 50 square miles of surrounding rural area.

Exhaust heat off of the turbines is used to generate steam at the Energy Center.  The steam and unused turbine exhaust heat are sent to a new Ethanol Plant that was built next to the Russell Energy Center, providing significant and much needed economical development to Russell and the surrounding region. 

The project was nominated for the Kansas Consulting Engineers' 2002 City Public Improvement Award.