After more than two and a half years, a project to cut nitrogen oxide emissions from Columbia Energy Center’s coal-fired Unit 2 is nearing completion with a ceremonious ribbon-cutting held May 23, 2018, at the power facility located near Portage, Wisconsin, and co-owned by Alliant Energy, Wisconsin Public Service Corp., and Madison Gas & Electric Co.

Alliant Energy selected GSL—a joint venture partnership between general contractor Graycor Industrial Constructors Inc. and engineering firm Sargent and Lundy LLC—to provide engineering, procurement and construction services to build a turnkey selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system with direct injection of aqueous ammonia to control the unit’s nitrogen oxide emissions. The air-quality control system (AQCS) project, which began in September 2015, also included upgrade modifications to existing plant systems to support operation of the new SCR equipment. The total investment in the SCR was approximately $92 million, and the project is scheduled to reach substantial completion in June of this year.

The GSL team also conducted commissioning and startup as well as performance testing of the SCR system capable of continuous operation. Andritz Inc. provided environmental technology services.

Wednesday’s ceremony included a brief presentation given by project team representatives, as well as state and local city officials.

Presenting on behalf of Graycor Industrial were Brandon Shanks, project manager, and Joe George, vice president. “I’m really proud of the Graycor, Sargent and Lundy, and Andritz team,” says Joe, who as GSL’s project executive oversaw construction of the major environmental improvement project. “Their diligence and dedication in navigating through the challenges of this complex EPC project brought it to a successful completion for Alliant Energy and its partner owners,” he adds.

Graycor Industrial safely executed the project’s final year of construction, which included a seven-week tie-in outage, with no recordable injuries. In March 2018, the company reached a monumental safety achievement by self-performing 1 million man-hours with zero recordable injuries.

Alliant Energy Corp., based in Madison, Wisconsin, provides regulated electric and natural gas service to 960,000 electric and 410,000 natural gas customers across Iowa and Wisconsin.