Chimney work under way at Southwest 2 plant

The caissons, or concrete supports, for the main chimney of the new plant have just been completed, and several other contracts have been awarded.

The contract for the 513-foot main chimney was awarded to Maryland-based Pullman Power. The structure – a reinforced concrete outer shell with carbon steel liner – should be complete by June 2009.

The turbine generator, which CU Associate General Manager for Electrical Supply Scott Miller called the “backbone of the plant,” will be built in Japan by Toshiba Corp. and delivered to the site by March 2009.

CU is also negotiating a contract for the main boiler island, which includes the coal silo, boiler and environmental protection equipment. That contract should be awarded this month.

With all the work at the site of the $697 million, 300-megawatt plant, CU officials say they will be updating the Southwest 2 Web site more frequently with information about building progress and contracts. The SW2 Web site is www.cityutilities.net/sw2/sw2.htm.