Fairmont Energy Station (FES) was constructed as an addition to the existing Fairmont 12 MW diesel power plant, and began commercial operation in 2013. Four natural gas-fired, reciprocating internal-combustion engines added 25 MW of generation to the Fairmont area, which significantly improved reliability within the city.

Besides adding local reliability, FES also diversifies the Agency’s generation portfolio and improves the Agency’s operating flexibility. Run by four SMMPA operators, FES is crucial in supporting wind and solar generation by responding quickly to the frequent changes in output of those intermittent resources.