Post by Woody Williams on May 22, 2007 7:47:37 GMT -5
Wildlife habitat will replace power plant on Wabash River
By The Associated Press
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
FAIRBANKS, Ind. — Crews are in the midst of demolishing and removing a closed power plant as part of a project to transform the site along the Wabash River into a wildlife habitat.
The 550-foot stack of the Breed Power Plant was imploded Friday, the latest step in demolition work that began in January.
The project is expected to last until November, said John O'Keefe of Brandenburg Industrial Service Co.
Indiana Michigan Power Co. reached a deal with the state in 2004 that gave 8,000 acres about 20 miles southwest of Terre Haute to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to manage for a period of at least five years.
The deal includes a provision for free public access to Fairbanks Landing Fish and Wildlife Area and its six miles of river frontage for hunting, fishing, wildlife watching and other activities.
O'Keefe said the demolition work was somewhat easier than other jobs for the company because of the isolated location, with no other nearby structures except a railroad switch yard.
"We're being required to make sure we minimize vibrations ... to minimize any damage that could occur to the adjacent locations," O'Keefe said about the switch yard.
In 2006, crews began removing metal for recycling and taking other parts which might be reused at other power plants.
Indiana Michigan Power, which closed the plant in 1994, still retains ownership of the land.
While the current plans are to restore the site to its natural condition, company spokesman Mike Brian said no final decisions have yet been made.
"You have the transmission lines available, there's gas lines available, a lot of water available there," he said. "So you have all the infrastructure there that would make it possible to develop energy plants, economic development projects.
"There's just any number of a wide assortment of projects that could go there," he said.
By The Associated Press
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
FAIRBANKS, Ind. — Crews are in the midst of demolishing and removing a closed power plant as part of a project to transform the site along the Wabash River into a wildlife habitat.
The 550-foot stack of the Breed Power Plant was imploded Friday, the latest step in demolition work that began in January.
The project is expected to last until November, said John O'Keefe of Brandenburg Industrial Service Co.
Indiana Michigan Power Co. reached a deal with the state in 2004 that gave 8,000 acres about 20 miles southwest of Terre Haute to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to manage for a period of at least five years.
The deal includes a provision for free public access to Fairbanks Landing Fish and Wildlife Area and its six miles of river frontage for hunting, fishing, wildlife watching and other activities.
O'Keefe said the demolition work was somewhat easier than other jobs for the company because of the isolated location, with no other nearby structures except a railroad switch yard.
"We're being required to make sure we minimize vibrations ... to minimize any damage that could occur to the adjacent locations," O'Keefe said about the switch yard.
In 2006, crews began removing metal for recycling and taking other parts which might be reused at other power plants.
Indiana Michigan Power, which closed the plant in 1994, still retains ownership of the land.
While the current plans are to restore the site to its natural condition, company spokesman Mike Brian said no final decisions have yet been made.
"You have the transmission lines available, there's gas lines available, a lot of water available there," he said. "So you have all the infrastructure there that would make it possible to develop energy plants, economic development projects.
"There's just any number of a wide assortment of projects that could go there," he said.