Johnston plant electrically charged for 50 years
by Wyoma Groenenberg
In the middle of the flat prairie near Glenrock, the sight of tall towers looming over the North Platte River, seems uncommon, almost like a mirage.
Over the past 50 years, Rocky Mountain Power's Dave Johnston Power Plant has been a landmark along Interstate 25 to travelers, knowing they have 25 miles to get to Casper or are 25 miles east of the city.
Electricity is produced the same way at the plant as it was in 1958, when it began operations. But with expansions and improvements, the output has increased sevenfold -- from 100,000 kilowatts to 762,000 kilowatts -- in the past half-century.
According to Jeff Hymas, Rocky Mountain Power spokesman, most of the electricity stays in Wyoming, but also is used by customers in five other states.
The Dave Johnston plant was among the first major coal-fired power plants in the Western United States. It continues to burn coal that's mined in Wyoming.
It first used the natural resource from a mine 16 miles away, but because of concerns about quality, the plant now imports coal from the Powder River Basin.
In addition to the four generating units, the company has added emissions control equipment over the years. Hymas said Rocky Mountain Power is trying to "stay ahead of the game" to meet emission control requirements.
Today, Rocky Mountain Power is working to utilize another prevalent Wyoming resource: the wind. The company is constructing three projects, with a total of 156 wind turbines, on the reclaimed land of the former Dave Johnston coal mine.
"Together, the Dave Johnston Power Plant and the nearby Glenrock wind farm symbolize the importance of having a balanced mix of resources, including thermal, renewable wind and geothermal and hydro generation, in order to ensure safe and reliable electric service now and into the future," said Leslie Blythe, Rocky Mountain Power customer and community manager.
To commemorate the plant's 50th anniversary and to mark building the new wind projects, a celebration is scheduled Saturday, Aug. 23.
"This event is an opportunity to show our appreciation for the support we've received from area residents, as well as local and state leaders, for both the power plant and the wind projects," Blythe said.
For information on the anniversary celebration, see the box accompanying this story.
Thanking employees
In addition to the plant anniversary, the event also will show the company's gratitude to former workers and the present 200 employees.
"It's also a way to say 'thank you' to our current and retired Dave Johnston plant employees who have done such terrific work over the years," Blythe said.
One of the retired employees who will attend is Bill Nunn, of Douglas, who started work at the plant in April of 1959.
Only the first generating unit was completed at that time. During his 21 years at the plant, he saw the next three units constructed.
He started working at the mine, which produced coal only for the plant. Nunn then worked in maintenance, starting with an apprenticeship.
Over the years, he worked as a foreman in maintenance and eventually was the maintenance superintendent and was a production supervisor when he decided to pursue another career in 1980.
Nunn decided to return to Rocky Mountain Power, which then was Pacific Power, in 1982 and worked at the Fort Bridger plant near Rock Springs until retiring from there in 1990.
He has returned to the Dave Johnston plant as a contractor, now working on a 500-foot exhaust flue to combine units 3-4 into one stack. Nunn said when this stack is completed, probably in 2012, there won't be any visible steam coming out from the plant.
Upon his return to the Dave Johnston plant for contract work, he has seen many changes, mostly for safety, efficiency and emissions control.
"I look back at some of the things we did and the way we worked on things, way back before OSHA," Nunn said, noting that regulations have changed how jobs are done now.
"I'm glad to see that the company went on. I'm glad Americans want to keep the company and go forward with it," Nunn explained, saying he was disappointed when Scottish Power operated the company, and the "stock went south."
Nunn commended Rocky Mountain Power for its efforts to reclaim its former mine, where it is installing the wind farms.
"I think it's great the way they've taken the mine and reclaimed it and put it back to a different use. It's remarkable if they have the foresight to do those types of good things," he said.
"I had a lot of fun with a lot fun people and have a lot of fond memories," Nunn said about working at the Dave Johnston Power Plant.
He said he still has good friends from then and pointed out that some of the apprentices he trained while he worked there are getting ready to retire.
Celebration activities
Saturday, Aug. 23
7 a.m.: 5k run/walk begins at South Rec Center. Registration can be done from 6-6:30 a.m. The $15 fee includes gifts and a T-shirt.
8-11 a.m.: community breakfast, with biscuits and gravy, at Glenrock Senior Center, 615 W. Deer. The cost is $5 person for all you can eat.
11 a.m.: activities begin at the Dave Johnston Park. To accommodate parking, bus service will be provided between the Glenrock High School parking lot, located at 225 Oregon Trail, and the park, beginning at 10:30, with bus service running every half-hour with the final return trip scheduled for 8 p.m.
The celebration will have a 1950s theme and will feature performances by celebrity impersonators of that era and other entertainment, a melodrama at 4 p.m., pony rides and other activities for children, bingo, car show, memorabilia, music and dancing, vendor booths and more.
11:30 a.m. or noon: picnic meal, catered by Four Aces, will start to be served.
5 p.m.: evening meal, catered by Bullwhip Catering, begins to be served.
Throughout the day: bus tours to the wind farm will begin at 8 a.m., originating at the Glenrock High School parking lot. Buses will leave on this 1-1/2-hour round-trip tour every hour, ending at 5 p.m.
For more information, call Sandy Thomas at 436-2007