Wrecking ball kick starts Austin demolition.
The final phase of dismantling the Holly Street Power Plant began yesterday as a giant crane tackled boiler unit No. 1. After 52 years of contributing to Austin’s electric supply, the plant’s time had come.
“Everything has a beginning and an end,” said Oscar Backus, senior spokesman for Austin Energy. “This power plant served the citizens for many years, but technology outdid it.”
The first unit went up in 1960 and more were built over the years. But by 2007, all four units were decommissioned. They’ve been replaced by a more modern, efficient plant.
Last year, there was a nasty legal squabble over bidding rights for the Holly project. When the original contractor, TRC Environmental Corp., cut its original $24 million bid in half it got the job.
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