Demolition of Holland BPW’s retired James De Young (JDY) power plant is underway. The demolition is part of a multi-year decommissioning process that started in 2017 when the plant first shut down.
August 11, 2023 - On the morning of Thursday, August 10, the James De Young power plant stood in its final moments, before a controlled implosion brought down what remained of the aging building.
The demolition is a multi-year process that started when the plant first shut down. JDY supplied Holland with electricity for 78 years, opening in 1939 and closing in 2017. The decommissioned coal plant was replaced with Holland Energy Park to support the growth of our community and to reduce carbon emissions. Following regulations and proper procedures to decommission and abate, and demolish JDY, health and safety are top priorities every step of the way.
"The James De Young Power Plant was a foundational asset that provided affordable and reliable electricity for generations, helping Holland to develop into the place we know today. As the community grew, eventually our electricity needs changed. The coal plant's replacement, Holland Energy Park, has increased our generation capacity, lowered rates, and cut our carbon emissions in half,” explained Dave Koster, Holland board of Public Works, General Manager.
Holland BPW considered multiple options for handling the retired power plant. Repurposing the building was one idea, however no developers took interest in the project. “The City of Holland received three proposals for developing the land and none of those included keeping the JDY building. So, demolishing the building and selling the parcel is the best option for upholding safety, sustainability, and value for our rate payers as relates to JDY,” said Koster.
"We are grateful to our team and partners who, through careful planning and responsible remediation, carried out an expert demolition. Clearing the space where James De Young once stood opens new opportunities for the waterfront in Holland."
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Physical changes to the building and external structures were visible beginning in May, as brick and underlying steel were being removed.
JDY supplied Holland with electricity for 78 years, opening in 1939 and closing in 2017. The aging coal plant was replaced with Holland Energy Park to support the growth of our community and to improve the efficiency and environmental performance of the portfolio of power supply resources, including helping to reduce carbon emissions by 50%. Following regulations and proper procedures to decommission, abate, and demolish JDY, Holland BPW ensures that health and safety are top priorities every step of the way.
While the decommissioning and demolition of the plant is catalytic to envisioning new waterfront opportunities, that work was not tied to the recent citizen vote enabling the sale of the property. During the Waterfront Holland community visioning effort, concepts were created that considered multiple options for the power plant site, including potentially repurposing the structure. When developers came forward through the subsequent requests for qualifications and then proposals, none proposed plans that would’ve made use of the building. “With each day that passes, the structure ages, increasing risks. So, demolishing the building is the prudent course of action for upholding safety, sustainability, and our commitment to the community to prepare the land for future use,” explained Dave Koster, General Manager of Holland BPW.
Since the plant closed in 2017, Holland BPW conducted environmental assessments regulated by the Michigan Department of Environment Great Lakes and Energy and performed safe remediation of the site from 2017-2020. Holland BPW also had to make changes to the electric distribution network. In 2017 a new substation on Pine Ave. replaced the distribution functionality that JDY formerly provided.
Holland BPW executed a contract with ERM for turnkey services associated with hazardous material remediation and demolition of the structure. ERM is using Bierlein as the primary subcontractor performing demolition services. Hazardous materials such as asbestos and lead-based paints were documented so that a thorough abatement could be conducted as part of the plant demolition. That abatement involved removal and safe disposal of the hazardous materials.
The remediation of those materials began in February 2023 and was completed by late April. Demolition started in May and is now visible, with the windows and brick being removed from the outside of the building. The demolition is expected to be complete the fall. Over the past several years, the Holland BPW set aside cash reserves to cover the costs of the decommissioning efforts. The demolition portion was budgeted at $6.5 Million and is anticipated to come in at around $5.7 Million.