Update to report which originally was published Nov. 17, 1999: A $3.6 million appropriation for the Pullman Power Plant was recommended by: the House Democratic and House Republican supplemental operating budgets, the budget proposed by Gov. Gary Locke, and the budget proposed in the State Senate.
LEGISLATIVE HELP SOUGHT WITH EMERGENCY PROBLEMS
AT THE PULLMAN CAMPUS POWER PLANT
An $3.6 million emergency university budget request to correct some vital maintenance problems at the 65-year-old power plant on the Pullman campus has won approval from both caucuses of the state House of Representatives.
University officials are optimistic that a proposed Senate budget, to be announced soon, will also provide the funding.
The WSU request to the 2000 Legislature was triggered by a series of maintenance problems at the power plant last August that resulted in all six of its coal and natural gas-fired boilers being shut down for more than six hours. The shutdown left 8.2 million gross square feet on the Pullman campus without heat. That was a relatively minor situation during the warm August weather but could have had severe consequences for the university during a January cold spell. A six-hour shutdown in winter months could lead to freezing pipes throughout the university, cancelled classes, and ruined research projects, such as those that involve growing plants indoors.
It is believed that the August infscident marked the first time in the history of the power plant that 24-hour, seven-day per week operations were completely halted. Steam from the plant is used to heat virtually all buildings on the Pullman campus, from some of the largest and most modern such the Library, to some of the smallest and oldest facilities such as Morrill Hall. The plant serves facilities covering 188 acres, including many student residence halls, dining halls, and apartments.
In addition, the steam also powers a turbine that generates about 3 megawatts of electricity that is used to partially provide the 10-megawatt electrical power demand of the campus. The university was already relying almost exclusively on three boilers of its six boilers. The state Department of Ecology does not permit three of WSU`s boilers to operate, except in emergencies, because they lack the required emissions equipment. Two of those three boilers are not currently operational even in emergencies without substantial modification. Of the three remaining boilers, the newest is coal-fired (built in 1979) and the other two are gas-fired. Two of these three boilers are currently configured to run together, forcing both to be shut down when there is a problem with a single boiler.
NEW STEAM BOILER REQUESTED
TO ASSURE MEETING PEAK DEMAND THIS WINTER
A new leadership team at the WSU power plant directed an evaluation of the power plant following the August shutdown. These officials concluded that the university had greatly underestimated the seriousness of the maintenance problems at the plant. WSU officials concluded that without installation of a new steam boiler, there may not be enough capacity to get the Pullman campus through a cold winter. They also ordered immediate repairs to ensure the safety of the plant. The power plant is now under the direction of Greg Royer, who recently was named WSU`s new vice president of business affairs; Ev Davis, a new director facilities operation; and Connie Nolen, power plant manager. Nolen, formerly a plant manager for Tacoma City Light, initially discovered abnormalities with the power plant turbine while interviewing for the WSU position. Efforts to repair that turbine problem led to other malfunctions that forced operators to shut down the plant. A proposal to substantially renovate the power plant has been on WSU`s capital construction request sheet in recent years, but was not ranked sufficiently high enough by the university to assure legislative funding by the 1999 Legislature.
UNIVERSITY REALLOCATES $860,000 OF ITS EXISTING BUDGET
TO MEET THE MOST PRESSING SAFETY NEEDS
To minimize the emergency request sought from the Legislature in January, and to address serious safety issues immediately, the university had redirected $860,000 out of its current budget into power plant repairs. Two natural gas-fired boilers required new flame safety devices. The new devices, which cost about $120,000, could prevent an explosion if the utility interrupted gas service and then restored gas pressure to a hot fire box.
Current budget funds have also been redirected to repair the operator control systems on three of the most frequently-used boilers at the plant. The current control systems operate erratically and often switch from "automatic" settings to "manual" settings. Without constant monitoring by plant officials, the faulty monitors can cause the boilers to unexpectedly drop steam production.
Other items that have been funded with existing funds include the $275,000 repair of the turbine generator, $175,000 in repairs to the three most crucial boilers, and $70,000 in improvements to the coal conveyor that feeds the plant. Unfortunately, this emergency reallocation means that some maintenance to buildings elsewhere on campus will be delayed for at least one year. WSU`s legislative request does not attempt to replace any of the $860,000 that has been reallocated.
LEASE WILL ALLOW FOR TIMELY INSTALLATION
OF A NEW BOILER BEFORE WINTER GRIPS THE CAMPUS
While the timing of the power plant shutdown was fortunate in the summer months, the problems did not surface in time to be efficiently addressed by the state`s political process. The Legislature did not convene until January. Pullman will be consumed by winter weather while legislators debate the budget. Without funds to make additional improvements in the power plant to get through the winter, WSU decided, in consultation with the governor`s budget office, to install a leased boiler.
This natural gas "modular boiler," a pre-assembled boiler, has been installed outside the power plant building and attached to WSU`s existing steam system. If funding is provided by the Legislature, it will provide for permanent acquisition of a new boiler. WSU is also taking steps to upgrade the plant`s "de-aerator" system, which removes oxygen in water used to make steam. Problems with de-aerator controls could cause water levels to drop below crucial minimums without operator knowledge and lead to destruction of boilers. There is also concern about the condition of some water tanks at the plant. Other items covered by the WSU budget request include asbestos removal and a comprehensive study of the power system.
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