Historic Gas-Fired Power Plant Demolished
A Detroit gas-fired electric generating plant that was more than 100 years old was demolished Friday to accommodate a Jeep factory.
DETROIT — A Detroit power plant that was more than 100 years old was demolished Friday to accommodate a Jeep factory.
Explosives were used to bring down the Conners Creek plant near the Detroit River on the city's east side. The plant, which belonged to DTE Energy, started in 1915 as a coal-fired operation but was later converted to natural gas. It was retired in 2008.
“Conners Creek Power Plant played an important role in the growth of Detroit and is an integral part of DTE’s history,” said Trevor Lauer, president of DTE Electric.
DTE is swapping land with the city of Detroit as part of the deal. The old power plant property will be used to store Jeeps that will built nearby by Fiat Chrysler.
The stacks were 375 feet tall and sat on top of a 150 foot tall power plant, according to Engineered Demolition, Inc., which said only a portion of the main powerhouse structure was imploded, leaving the attached building and 2 stacks intact and fully operational.
The stacks were brought down within the contracted time and budget, with damage to adjacent structures or utilities and no safety incidents, the Coeur d'Alene, Idaho-based demolition specialist reported.
- P&GJ staff and wire report