Duke EnergyÂ’s long-term vision for sites with retired coal units like those at Dan River is to safely return them to ground level using a method known as decommissioning and demolition.
This multi-year process involves cleaning and removing equipment, demolishing the powerhouse and auxiliary buildings, and restoring the site.
The demolition process will occur using a phased approach.
Phase one will begin this fall and will continue through early 2014. During this phase, a small portion of the exterior brick on the powerhouse will be removed near the river to allow modifications to the new natural gas plant's water-intake system.
While these modifications are being made, the company will demolish auxiliary buildings, the old combustion turbine units and the fuel oil tank.
Phase two will begin in mid-2015 and will last nearly a year. During this stage, Duke Energy will demolish the powerhouse, which will involve imploding a portion of the building.
Between these two demolition phases, the company will relocate electrical equipment that is critical to its power transmission system.
“Duke Energy is committed to safely decommissioning the retired units at Dan River with a keen focus on protecting the environment,” said Davis Montgomery, Duke Energy district manager. “The coal units have served the region for more than 60 years, but by retiring these older units, we’ve had the opportunity to modernize our generation fleet to better serve our customers. Duke Energy will have retired seven of our 14 coal plants in the state by the end of 2013 as part of our investments to meet customers' needs in cleaner ways."
Contractors plan to use the designated truck route used during the construction of the combined cycle plant to move materials on- and off-site while avoiding major city streets.
Duke Energy will continue to update the community with important information as the process advances.