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the background,however,was the question of the company's role in the ever-changing utilities industry. New Challenges, More Growth ; By the late 1960s, demand for power was w-' A escalating at a rate of over ten percent per year Because of the economics of scale, it was cheaper for Elk River to purchase electricity than to Nei { produce it Contract interconnection of ' _ requirements, however, forced Elk River to maintain sufficient generating capacity to operate I independently no surplus electricity was available. The Commission had little choice but '� to examine the feasibility of enlarging the power plant.74 In May 1969, Associated Consultants of Minneapolis reported that additional capacity could be accommodated at the site of Elk River's existing plant. Superintendent Halter apparently F decided that a new administration should oversee the changes: he retired in 1970, and was replaced f by William Patenaude. Patenaude was well acquainted with the Commission,having served _- as a Commissioner for twenty-one years.75 Superintendent Richard Halter with a new Westinghouse fluorescent streetlight,ca. 1965. Bids were opened for a new engine-generating These replaced mercury-vapor lights installed in unit on May 6, 1971. The Commission spent the mid-1950s. almost two months deliberating the decision. They (Evelyn Halter Photograph) ultimately awarded a contract for$708,113 for a 16-cylinder dual-fuel unit to the Worthington Corporation,but only after sending Rodney Anderson to New York to inspect one of the company's 5,000-kilowatt machines in operation. Anderson,who had worked as an operator in the power plant since 1951, was promoted to plant manager at about that time.76 Installation of the engine and related equipment was anticipated within 360 days. Associated Consultants was authorized to develop plans for nearly doubling the size of the power plant. By the end of 1971, the Commission had accepted bids of$98,250 from Magney Construction Company for the building expansion; $10,000 from Lemke Welding to install piping to provide cooling water from the river; and$153,295 from Premier Electric Construction Corporation to 74 Ibid. 75"Utilities Continues Tradition of Service It Started Here in 1916." 76 Associated Consultants,"History of Installation of Worthington SWCGO-16 Dual Fuel Electrical Generating Unit for the Municipal Electric Utility,Elk River,Minnesota,May 29, 1969-June 9, 1976," 1-3,in files of the Elk River Municipal Utilities;Patenaude,August 14, 1972;Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission Minutes,July 1, 1971; interview with Rodney Anderson,conducted by Weber,August 5, 1993. 90