By MIKE CORN

mcorn@dailynews.net

Six massive engines have been hard at work, producing electricity to supply the peak power loads that were needed as temperatures hit the century mark last week.

The engines are part of Midwest Energy's Goodman Energy Center at the northwest edge of Hays.

Just last week, Midwest Energy received preliminary reports on the emissions and performance testing of the engines.

As a result, they were put into commercial operation and are producing electricity to supply peak demand periods as temperatures climb.

"It is up and running," said Midwest spokesman Bob Helm.

But, because the engines are new, Midwest has been forced to idle some of the machines for maintenance and the like.

"We've been running four of them for the most part," Helm said.

But those four engines -- out of the six in place -- are producing about 36 megawatts of electricity. Three other engines are being installed and should come on line later this year, providing up to 76 megawatts of electricity.

The Goodman center is a peaking unit, in that it only will run when electricity demand is high, such as during the summer months when air conditioners need plenty of power.

The extra power capacity already is saving money, Helm said.

Even though the generators are powered by natural gas, it's cheaper, he said, to produce electricity locally rather than purchase it on the open market.

In fact, Midwest Energy has pushed power plants in Colby and Bird City into service to help lower the need to purchase expensive power on the open market. Colby has the capability to produce about 12 megawatts of power, while the Bird City plant can produce about 4 megawatts.

"We're probably generating about 50 megawatts of power," he said of all three plants.

Although the plant now is in commercial operation, it actually has been producing small amounts of electricity since early June when the first engine was fired up to conduct tests.

Anytime engines at the Goodman center are running, power is being fed into the system.

"When you test, you're putting it out on the grid," Helm said.

The engines were started and stopped to ensure everything was working and emissions were within limits prescribed by the permit issued by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

The engines, for example, had a 50-hour maintenance schedule that required they be shut down.

"Not all six have been running at any one time," Helm said.

Even when all nine engines are up and running, it won't supply all of the peak needs for Midwest, which has contracts that allow for the purchase of power during peak times of use.

The extra power, however, is expected to help reduce the need to buy power when it is most expensive.

Goodman is something of an on-demand plant, in that it can be fired up in short order as the need for power grows.

"This can be generating from a cold start in about 10 minutes," Helm said.

When everything is said and done, the plant is expected to cost about $60 million to construct.

Midwest Energy is expected to have an open house for the plant sometime in September.