Alliant power plant demolition begins

CEDAR RAPIDS - Work has begun to demolish the oldest alternating current electric and steam plant constructed west of the Mississippi River.

Alliant Energy's Sixth Street Generating Station, a fixture of the downtown Cedar Rapids skyline for nearly 125 years, sustained significant damage during the flood of 2008. A temporary steam system was installed and continued to provide steam service to customers until the generating station stopped full operations on June 1, 2010.

The plant, which began providing electric service on Jan. 1, 1888, and added steam service on Oct. 10, 1892, was not restarted after the June 2008 flood. Alliant Energy - citing millions of dollars required to repair the plant - decided to shutter the 55-megawatt facility.

Brandenburg Industrial Service Co. of Elmhurst, Ill., which specializes in demolition and environmental remediation, is the lead contractor for the project.

The interior of the plant has been gutted and water remains in the basement, Alliant Energy spokesman Ryan Stensland said. Asbestos removal has begun in preparation for demolition of the former power plant's main building.

The demolition is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter 2015, according to Stensland. Alliant Energy is evaluating future uses for the site after work is completed.

Before the 2008 flood, Alliant Energy continued to reinvest in the plant, including a $20 million upgrade completed in 2005 that enabled it to burn low-sulfur coal.