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 — The Marquette Board of Light and Power’s Shiras Steam Plant demolition project could see some adjustments due to the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the decreasing price of scrap steel.

During a conference call at its monthly meeting, Marquette Board of Light & Power officials provided an update on the Shiras plant demolition project Tuesday and how engineering consultant Golder Associates Inc. is on site this week to examine the property.

“The (Shiras Steam Plant) CCR project itself is being done by M.J. Van Damme construction with consultant support from GEI Consultants. We have MBLP staff that is supporting the project internally,” MBLP Executive Director Tom Carpenter said in a previous Journal article. “The Shiras demo project is being supported by Golder as our consultant with MBLP staff supporting the project internally.”

However, the price of scrap steel has been decreasing and that could potentially affect the total costs for the demolition, as the MBLP had hoped to sell the scrap steel to recoup some of the demolition costs.

“I’m sure it has a lot to do with the fact that the demand, auto manufacturers are down for months on end, they don’t know how quickly they’re going to come back,” Carpenter said. “I’m sure a lot of building projects are being scrapped and those types of things.”

Jackie Jahfetson can be reached at jjahfetson@miningjournal.net.