What’s happening: Demolition of Holland BPW’s retired James De Young (JDY) power plant is underway. The demolition is part of a multiyear decommissioning process that started in 2017, when the plant first shut down.
Here’s the background: JDY supplied Holland with electricity for 78 years, opening in 1939 and closing in 2017. The aging coal plant was replaced with
Holland Energy Park to support the growth of the Holland area community and to improve the efficiency and environmental performance of the portfolio of power supply resources, including helping to reduce carbon emissions by 50%.
Why they did it: While the decommissioning and demolition of the plant are catalytic to envisioning new waterfront opportunities, that work was not tied to the recent citizen vote enabling the sale of the property. During the Waterfront Holland community visioning effort, concepts were created that considered multiple options for the power plant site, including potentially repurposing the structure. When developers came forward through the subsequent requests for qualifications and then proposals, none proposed plans that would have made use of the building.
What they’re saying: “With each day that passes, the structure ages, increasing risks. So, demolishing the building is the prudent course of action for upholding safety, sustainability, and our commitment to the community to prepare the land for future use,” explained Dave Koster, general manager of Holland BPW.
How they prepared: Since the plant closed in 2017, Holland BPW conducted environmental assessments regulated by the Michigan Department of Environment Great Lakes and Energy, and performed safe remediation of the site from 2017–20. Holland BPW also had to make changes to the electric distribution network. In 2017, a new substation on Pine Avenue replaced the distribution functionality that JDY formerly provided.
What’s involved: Holland BPW executed a contract with Environmental Resources Management (ERM) for turnkey services associated with hazardous material remediation and demolition of the structure. ERM is using Bierlein Companies as the primary subcontractor performing demolition services. Hazardous materials, such as asbestos and lead-based paints, were documented so that a thorough abatement could be conducted as part of the plant demolition. That abatement involved the removal and safe disposal of hazardous materials.
What’s the cost: The remediation of those materials began in February 2023 and was completed by late April. Demolition started in May and is now visible, with the windows and brick being removed from the outside of the building. The demolition is expected to be complete in the fall. Over the past several years, the Holland BPW set aside cash reserves to cover the costs of the decommissioning efforts. The demolition portion was budgeted at $6.5 million and is anticipated to come in at around $5.7 million.
Related:
BPW awarded for sustainability
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