Waverly Light and Power in Iowa, long a leader in development and adoption of soy-based transformer fluids, plans to retrofill its largest transformer from petroleum-based coolant to a safer soy-based product. This will involve 5,000 gallons of soy-based fluid.
Waverly L&P has used soy-based fluid in it pole-top transformers for several years. The move to use a soy product in its large transformer follows enactment of a law in Iowa extending a tax credit to electric utilities that use a soy-based transformer fluid. The tax credit is equal to the cost a utility would pay to convert from petroleum-based fluid to the soy-based transformer fluid. WL&P will apply this tax credit to defray the cost of the conversion of its South Load Center substation transformer.
Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack signed the tax credit law on May 30.
By using soy-based oil, the industry relies on one of the largest agricultural cash crops in the United States. Soybeans are a major crop in Iowa.
“We feel good about supporting Iowa’s agricultural system, but the advantages go far beyond that,” said Cannon. “Should a spill happen?and spills no doubt will happen?[the Cooper Power FR3 soy-based oil] is biodegradable, environmentally preferred and less expensive to clean up. In addition, FR3 has the highest flash (626 C) and fire (680 F) points of any fluid currently on the market, which leads to added safety for our workers and the public.”
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