Landmark smokestack loses to greener natural gas
A landmark of St. Paul's riverfront is coming down tomorrow. Xcel Energy is imploding the stack at the old High Bridge power plant.
It's a very visible step in Xcel Energy's program to convert its power plants in the metro area to cleaner energy.
The original High Bridge plant, built in 1923, burned coal. In May of this year, Xcel started burning natural gas at its new High Bridge plant.
Plant Director Jim Zyduck said he is getting calls from neighbors and former workers.
"There's a lot of history here, but in the same sense people want to usher in a new era of energy production, especially in the St. Paul river valley here." A contractor will implode the 570-foot stack at 7:30 a.m. Saturday.
The High Bridge and parts of Shepard Road will be closed during the demolition.
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