Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Retired power plant to be demolished


The Walter C. Beckjord power plant along the Ohio River near Cincinnati was retired from service several years ago, and now it is scheduled for demolition.

Duke Power, which owns most of the plant and the property, and its partners have agreed to sell the station to a company that will demolish it and aid in redeveloping the site.

From the news release:

"Beckjord Station powered our region and played a vital role in the county's economy for countless families and businesses," said Jim Henning, president, Duke Energy Ohio and Kentucky. "We've pursued an outcome that will advance the county's priorities with regard to safeguarding the environment and revitalizing the property and we're pleased that this historic property is poised for a second act as an integral part of our community."
According to this article in The Columbus Dispatch, the Beckjord plant has a history of environmental problems, which is not surprising considering its age.

Again from the news release:

"With this announcement, CLP will address environmental needs, including groundwater monitoring, abatement, decommissioning and demolition of the facility. In the coming weeks, CLP will work under the direction of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) to determine final environmental plans for the site, which includes the station and surrounding coal ash ponds."

It's noteworthy that the environmental concerns were addressed in the second paragraph of the release.