WINCHESTER, Ky. (May 16, 2018) — East Kentucky Power Cooperative plans to demolish the powerhouse of a decommissioned power plant in Clark County, Ky.
The powerhouse and stacks of Dale Station, located in southern Clark County on the Kentucky River, will be torn down and removed over the next year.
The plant ceased operations in early 2016. Since that time, the powerhouse, which houses the plant’s generating units, has been unused and is beginning to deteriorate.
“Maintaining the abandoned powerhouse is an ongoing cost to EKPC, and it is likely to increase as the structure deteriorates,” said Anthony “Tony” Campbell, EKPC’s president and chief executive officer. “We have determined it is best to proceed with demolition.”
Once demolition is complete, the footprint of the powerhouse will be filled and leveled.
EKPC maintains a switchyard and other transmission facilities at the site. They will continue to operate and are critical to the reliability of the regional power grid. In addition, an office building and some out-buildings will remain.
The powerhouse is in close proximity to surrounding homes and other private structures. EKPC will take steps to share information with neighbors beforehand about plans for demolition, and will provide ongoing updates and notification about upcoming demolition events. If necessary, EKPC will make provisions to protect nearby structures.
Dale Station was built in the 1950s. It featured four coal-fueled generating units with total capacity of 196 megawatts. In recent years, EKPC faced mounting costs to add environmental controls to meet more-stringent environmental regulations. In addition, newer, more-efficient generating technologies have become more cost-competitive.
“Dale Station was EKPC’s first power plant,” Campbell said. “Over the years, the plant served a vital role in providing reliable, affordable energy for thousands of homes and businesses and millions of Kentucky residents.”
Plans call for demolition activities to begin in July and last until July 2019. Security personnel will remain on site 24 hours a day.
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