Independence Demolition (ID) was awarded a contract by Dairyland Power Cooperative (DPC) to demolish their Alma Station coal power plant in Alma, Wisconsin in March 2017. The Alma Station consisted of five separate units under one roof including a coal conveyor system, boilers, turbine assemblies, and outside electrostatic precipitators. The highest section of the building was 120’ tall and the building had a basement that was 12’ deep. Our scope included some initial environmental abatement including asbestos mastic removal and the removal of a PCB contaminated concrete slab. A challenge on this project has been the close proximity to the existing substation on the north side of the building and the active overhead 69kV and 161kV electric lines on the east and west side of the building. The 69kV line on the east side of the building was shut down for a one week period in order to demolish the east side of the building.

ID is working well with DPC representatives to bring the building down safely. The building should be on the ground by mid-October with rubble removal to finish up mid-November. Scrap processing will continue through the end of November. We are on track to complete the project on time and are looking forward to putting the finishing touches on this job.