WEST TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — A plant that once helped power the Wabash Valley is coming down.
Duke Energy began the process of demolishing the old Wabash River Station in West Terre Haute Friday.
Built in 1953, it was one of the largest plants at the time, and had a total output of nearly 700 megawatts. The facility shut down in April of 2016.
The demolition manager, Mike Wertz, used to work at the plant, and said while it was tough to see the plant go, he was honored to be a part of the project.
“It’s truly blood, sweat and tears when you’re in there,” Wertz said. “There were times I wouldn’t go home, 24 hours working in there to restore an issue to bring a unit on with a number of other great folks all committed to the same thing, so when you have a number of folks committed to the same thing, that’s rewarding in and of itself.”
Wertz said they expect to have the facility completely demolished by the fourth quarter of next year.
