Final step in making Power Plant compliant with national standards – replacing old ‘smokestacks’ with new clean energy ones
The final step in making the Municipal Utility Power Plant in Mountain Lake compliant with National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) began Monday, November 28 with the removal of the old smokestacks (officially known as mufflers) on the roof, and will be completed this week when new, clean energy ones are placed.
Earlier work towards compliance was the placement of hardware – emission control catalytic converters and heat shield silences – on the five power plant engines as part of NESHAP for Reciprocal Internal Combustion Engines (RICE) . The first two engines to be upgraded were two Caterpillar (Cat) engines, followed by the three Fairbanks-Morse engines.
For residents served by the Municipal Utility, having the Municipal Utility Power Plant – light-heartedly nicknamed the “light plant” – provides for the option of supplying the city with electricity when it is necessary.
The “engine” that is the Mountain Lake Municipal Power Plant began 81 years ago – on July 5, 1935. Plans for the plant began in 1933, but it took two years of court battles with the Interstate Power Company before the plant could be operated.
But, even before that summer day over eight decades ago, Mountain Lake’s first electricity was supplied from a switchboard located in the flour mill (which came to be known as the Mountain Lake Milling Company). The flour mill was started by David Hiebert in 1870 south of the railroad tracks and east of 10th Street. The three-story frame structure produced two grades of flower – “White Rose” as the top grade and”Snowflake” as its second grade. Rye and buckwheat flour were also produced.
The 50 KW (kilowatt) electric generator, operating with 2400 volts, was added to the mill’s steam plant to do its flour milling and feed grinding as well as supply Mountain Lake with its first electrical current. Interstate Power Company eventually took over this electric generator, operating it until 1935, at which time the “light plant” was built and operational.
