Stillwater Power Plant Demolition Approved After 60 Years Of Service

Stillwater Power Plant Demolition Approved After 60 Years Of Service

The Stillwater power plant demolition project is moving forward after city leaders approved a $3.5 million contract to remove the former Boomer Lake Station, ending the lifespan of a facility that helped generate electricity for the community for more than six decades.

The Stillwater City Council recently approved hiring an engineering firm to oversee demolition of the retired steam turbine plant, which was constructed during the 1950s and remained in service until it was officially decommissioned in 2016. City officials say the aging facility has remained vacant for nearly a decade while discussions about its future continued.

Stillwater Power Plant Demolition Marks End Of An Era

For decades, Boomer Lake Station served as the backbone of Stillwater's municipal electric system.

The natural gas-fired steam turbine plant generated the city's entire electrical supply until 1967, when growing demand required additional generation capacity. During the 1990s, the facility was modernized and transitioned into a peaking plant before eventually reaching the end of its useful life.

The City Council has now approved a $3.5 million demolition project, with officials expecting the work to begin sometime within the next year.

Electric Utility Director Loren Smith has said the city hopes to offset part of the demolition cost by recovering the scrap value of steel and other recyclable materials removed from the facility.

The plant had previously been considered for redevelopment into a mixed-use project that included a brewpub, rooftop bar and lakefront townhomes, but that proposal was ultimately abandoned after the development failed to move forward.

Modern Facility Replaced Aging Station

Rather than investing in another major renovation of Boomer Lake Station, city leaders chose to construct the Stillwater Energy Center, a modern natural gas generation facility designed to better meet future energy demands.

The new plant uses three high-efficiency natural gas reciprocating engines capable of producing more than 56 megawatts of electricity while responding much faster to changing demand than the former steam turbine plant.

Officials say the technology allows the utility to quickly adjust generation as renewable energy sources such as wind power fluctuate throughout the day.

The new generation facility also strengthens the reliability of Stillwater Electric Utility, which has provided municipal electric service since 1903 and remains Oklahoma's largest municipally owned generation and transmission utility.

City Looks Toward The Future

Although demolition marks the end of one of Stillwater's most recognizable industrial landmarks, officials say it also represents the city's continued investment in modern energy infrastructure.

The new generation system provides greater efficiency, lower operating costs and improved flexibility while supporting the community's long-term electrical needs.

City leaders say removing the retired power plant will eliminate an unused industrial structure and complete the transition to a newer generation facility built to meet the changing demands of today's energy market.

With demolition now approved, Boomer Lake Station will soon become part of Stillwater's history after serving the community for nearly 60 years.

🔴 MORE RADIO NEWS