COLUMBUS, OH: American Municipal Power, Inc. (AMP) is pleased to announce that the City of Bowling Green and the Bowling Green Electric Division, an Ohio public power utility serving about 14,900 customers, received the American Public Power Association’s (APPA) E.F. Scattergood System Achievement Award.
The City of Bowling Green was presented with the prestigious award on June 11 during the APPA National Conference in San Diego. The award honors APPA member systems that have enhanced the prestige of public power utilities through sustained achievement and customer service.
“The E.F. Scattergood System Achievement Award is a testament to the City of Bowling Green’s unwavering commitment to excellence in public power,” said James Odneal, Assistant Utilities Director for the City of Bowling Green. “This prestigious recognition not only honors our city’s innovative spirit and operational efficiency but also shines a light on the dedication of our electrical department to provide reliable, sustainable, and affordable energy to our community. It reflects our collective efforts to enhance the quality of life for all residents and underscores our position as a leader in the public power landscape. We are deeply honored by this accolade, and it inspires us to continue setting the standard for service and stewardship in the industry.”
The City of Bowling Green has owned and operated its electric utility since 1942. The city has long been a leader in renewable energy technology. In 2022, approximately 40 percent of the city’s total energy consumption was derived from renewable sources. The Bowling Green Solar Facility, a 20-megawatt (MW) installation began generating in 2017 and is a 165-acre facility with more than 85,000 tracking solar panels that equates to powering approximately 3,000 homes annually, mitigating 25,500 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, and contributing up to 4.5 percent of Bowling Green’s annual power supply.
Apart from solar, the city has invested in AMP’s six run-of-the-river hydroelectric facilities situated along the Ohio River. These projects make up approximately 28 percent of Bowling Green’s energy resource mix. The city also worked with AMP to develop Ohio’s first utility-scale wind farm in 2003, located in Bowling Green, which has a generating capacity of 5.4 MW and provides renewable energy supply to 10 participating municipal utilities; Bowling Green owns the largest share (56 percent) of the project. In addition, the city developed a 12-MW battery storage project in 2022, which is expected to yield substantial savings over the next 15 years. In 2022, Bowling Green also worked with AMP Transmission on the construction of the Bellard Substation, which provides the city with a fourth transmission interconnection.
Bowling Green has received the APPA Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) designation since 2011, achieving Diamond Level twice, along with many Excellence in Reliability Awards. Bowling Green has been designated three times as an APPA Smart Energy Provider, showcasing the utility’s commitment to integrating innovative and sustainable practices into its power supply.
“The Bowling Green Electric Division has consistently searched for new opportunities to better serve its customers with reliable and sustainable electricity while also giving back to their community,” said Jolene Thompson, AMP President/CEO. “They serve as an exemplary role model for other public power utilities, and they are very deserving of this prestigious award.”
APPA is the service organization for the nation’s more than 2,000 community-owned electric utilities that serve more than 49 million Americans.
View the official APPA news release here.