Mucci Farms powers $3M electrical upgrade in Huron

HURON — An economic surge along Rye Beach Road jolted Huron officials to increase how much power it can provide for a new multimillion-dollar venture.During a recent public meeting, city council members supported a $3 million endeavor to create a new substation, under the name Huron Public Power.Work on the project recently began and should end sometime later this year.What prompted the power amplification: Mucci Farms, a $70 million new-age agriculture venture, which will debut later this year, requires extra electricity the city today cannot offer.The elected officials agreed to take out debt, payable over a 10-year time frame. This not only keeps interest rates low but frees up money from Huron's everyday operating budget, totaling $4.9 million in 2018, to ensure officials can still fund road repairs, safety services and many other day-to-day operations."Without Huron Public Power and its ability to offer discounted wholesale electricity to large consumers, the Mucci Farms project would not have happened," Huron city manager Andy White said. "The construction of a new substation is necessary to support Mucci's consumption and for new jobs in the city. The substation will also support existing customers in the city's corporate park and future development with it."Citywide electric rates should not increase as a result of this project."The fees that are generated off of the electric sales will pay off the debt issue to build the substation," said White, indicating it's being built on Rye Beach Road across from Mucci Farms. "We are building this because we have a new revenue source in Mucci Farms that won't affect our existing customers." For a comparison, at its peak performance, the nearby Huron Corporate Park, which hosts multiple businesses, produces 2 million kilowatts-hour, or 35 times less than Mucci Farms, which projects to generate an estimated 70 kilowatts-hour.Reach reporter Andy Ouriel at ouriel@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @AndyOuriel.Mucci Farms general manager Dave Loewen explains how fruits and vegetables will grow inside Mucci Farms' three greenhouses being built in Huron near BGSU Firelands. The $70 million new-age agricultural venture requires more power than Huron officials can currently provide, prompting city council members to approve a $4 million upgrade to its public power system.