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The Rock Island Arsenal power plant on May 11, 2016, just days before ceasing operations. The plant was built in 1917 to provide steam to heat buildings and support operations. It operated 24 hours a day and supported more than 50 buildings at peak o...
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Kyle Williams, boiler technician, looks at coal being burned at the Rock Island Arsenal power plant May 11. The plant has been in operation since 1917 and provided steam for heat to more than 50 buildings at its peak. The plant is closing as the arse...
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Jay Richter, Rock Island Arsenal energy manager, explains power plant operations as Greg Wilson, Army Sustainment Command multi-media specialist, captures audio and video to document plant operations. The plant is shutting down after 99 years of serv...
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ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill.--The Rock Island Arsenal power plant is scheduled to close soon after 99 years of providing heat to arsenal buildings.
The plant was built in 1917 to provide steam for heating Arsenal buildings. Over the years improvements and upgrades were made to provide more efficient power and to meet evolving clean air and emissions requirements. The coal-powered facility is digitized but still uses boilers dating to the 1940s. The Arsenal has been converting to natural gas and a more efficient and cost-effective decentralized heating system to heat buildings over the last several years.
"I dubbed this the heartbeat of the Arsenal," said Jay Richter, energy manager. "It was reliable heating so missions could go on to support Soldiers here and around the world."
Richter said converting to natural gas will be more efficient, cost-effective and posture the Arsenal for the next 100 years.
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