Wabash Generating Station Comes Down

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VIGO COUNTY, Ind – Saturday morning a very large explosion was heard across Vigo County and the Wabash Valley. It was the sound of the end of the Wabash Valley Generating Station in northern Vigo County. The plant provided reliable power to west central Indiana since 1953.  The plant stopped generating electricity in April 2016.

In all there were six boiler generating units.

Wabash River Generating Station
Duke Energy

The event was closed to the public and there was also security in boats along the Wabash River to ensure that no boaters were in danger.  Local law enforcement and government officials were notified but media and the public were intentionally not told of the event to help keep onlookers away from the 1,100 acre site.

Michael Wertz Duke Energy

Michael Wertz with Duke Energy use to manage the power plant and was in charge of its demolition. He said that the planning of implosion has been going on for nine months and was quite complicated.

There was no unintended damage reported due to the explosions and area residents were not evacuated.

It will take about 9 months to complete the site cleanup. Most of the material will be recycled.

The generators were already taken out, what was left was the supporting steel structure.

As of now, there are no known plans for a future use of the site.

The power switch yard on site is a critical component for power delivery in western Indiana and that will remain.

Work to fully close the ash ponds on site will likely take up to eight years.

Total cost to close the plant is near $30 million. Asbestos remediation of the plant took 16 months and cost nearly $15 million.

Some artifacts from the plant are being donated to the Vigo County Historical Museum and will be on display.

 

( All photos and video courtesy Duke Energy)

Wabash River Generating Station
Duke Energy
Wabash Generating Demotion 5/2/20
Wabash Generating Demotion 5/2/20
Wabash Generating Demotion 5/2/20
Wabash Generating Demotion 5/2/20