The Marquette Board of Light and Power's Shiras Steam Plant along Lake Street in Marquette is pictured. The plant ceased operations in June 2018 and the MBLP is now working toward demolition plans. (Journal file photo)

MARQUETTE — Since the Shiras Steam Plant was officially retired in March after being placed in layup status in June 2018, the Marquette Board of Light and Power has been taking steps to demolish the building.

The MBLP is looking at developing a demolition scope to see what would be the best way to move forward with demolishing the coal-fueled steam plant.

The MBLP’s board discussed the overall steps to the capital project at its meeting Tuesday.

Before tearing the building down, the MBLP will hire an engineering consultant to draft a plan for a contractor so that the building will be torn down safely and in an environmentally responsible manner, MBLP Executive Director Tom Carpenter said.

“I think the biggest thing in all of this is safety, number one,” Carpenter said. “So if we do our homework upfront with the consultant to make sure we have a nice, solid, good document that’s indisputable, we can protect ourselves.”

With the closure of the Shiras Steam Plant and switch to its largely natural-gas-powered Marquette Energy Center along Wright street, the MBLP has also reduced its emissions.

Sulfur dioxide emissions have been reduced by 99.6%, nitrogen oxide emissions are down by 93%, carbon monoxide emissions decreased by 96% and carbon dioxide emissions are down 75%. Furthermore, the MBLP has reduced ash sent to the landfill by 17,000 tons per year, officials said.

“It’s great for numerous reasons. One, we clean up our generating portfolio. And less pollutants is important,” Carpenter said.

As the MBLP has transitioned from coal to natural gas, its operations are more clean and efficient, he added.

“We are in the business of building things, we don’t tear things like that down hardly ever, so we had to reach out to some external sources to help us do that properly,” he said.

Jackie Jahfetson can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 248. Her email address is jjahfetson@miningjournal.net.