The City was facing significant increases in the cost of wholesale power, particularly for electric kW demand. This, in turn, was expected to cause a substantial increase in the community's electric rates. Instead of paying the higher demand charges, St. Charles installed local electric generation that allowed the community to purchase power on an interruptible basis. Installing local generation will save enough money to cover the bond payments to finance the generating plant. The new generating units produce power at 12,470 volts.

Features

• New standby peaking power plant with four 1,825 kW diesel electric generating units
• Significant remediation of rocky soil
• Plant footings extend into bedrock and doweled into limestone substrate
• Special foundation bases for generating unit exhaust tailpipes
• Diesel engine generators that require tremendous plant ventilation levels (approximately 300 air changes per hour)
• Sound attenuation baffles in the intake and exhaust air streams to control sound transmission
• Insulation and perforated-steel lining to absorb noise from plant, which is located in a residential area

SEH Services

• Generation study
• Civil engineering
• Structural engineering
• Mechanical engineering
• Electrical engineering
• Environmental