Making it all run: a look inside the GCMU generation substation

A little over a month ago, as the finale of the popular television series “The Big Bang Theory” was about to air, a portion of Grundy Center lost power, and Grundy Center Municipal Utilities General Manager Jeff Carson heard about it. Now, he’s taking the opportunity to explain how the process of generation works, what it entails and how it helps to power other communities from Texas all the way up to North Dakota.
           
“Understandably, people were upset, but we do the best we can,” he said.
           
The substation, located just east of the community center and the police headquarters, has three generators running: it’s hot, it’s louder than a rock concert, and Carson and his fellow employees always wear ear protection. Last week, they were testing their system for capacity and generating enough excess power to sell it to other areas that need it as part of their larger electrical cooperative, the Southwest Power Pool. 
 
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