City Breaks Ground on New Utility Building

Work on the new city utility center on the former Medical Center of Independence campus is commencing and major project be completed in early 2017.

The ambitious plan converts a former physician office building into administrative offices and customer service center for city-owned utilities including Independence Power & Light.

IPL director Leon Daggett said the building is part of an overall effort to make Independence "one of the greenest cities in the state."

Independence is expanding its purchase of additional wind energy, reached an agreement a new community solar farm and stop burning coal at the two city-operated power plants - Missouri City and Blue Valley.

The new building hopes to meet platinum LEED building standards.