NEW ALBANY, Ind. — A retired Duke Energy boiler house in New Albany will soon be demolished, but it's unclear exactly when a planned implosion of the facility will commence.
The company recently sent letters to area residents informing them of plans to implode the facility at the former Gallagher power plant on Jackson Street, which is located across the Ohio River from Louisville's Shawnee Park. A "controlled implosion" is scheduled for this weekend, but the letter did not include a specific time.
The letter noted the event is weather-dependent. Many residents posted a copy of the letter they received on social media.
According to the letter, the boiler house is the only structure that will be part of the implosion. The station's chimneys will be dismantled over a longer period of time.
The implosion will be visible from a distance and nearby residents should expect brief noise.
The entire letter sent to residents can be found below:
Dear Gallagher Station Neighbor,
As your neighbor, we want to keep you updated about activities underway at our retired Gallagher power plant in New Albany.
Since retiring the plant in June 2021, Duke Energy has been working to safely and securely decommission the site. Decommissioning is a multiyear process that includes dismantling and removing all plant structures in a manner that complies with all applicable state and federal regulations.
As part of this work to decommission the facility, Duke Energy is planning a controlled implosion of the boiler house at Gallagher Station the weekend of Oct. 18. The boiler house is the only structure included in this upcoming event; the retired station's chimneys will be dismantled in pieces over the next several months. It is important to note that this implosion event is dependent on the weather and will be rescheduled if necessary.
While the implosion will be visible from a distance and the noise will be audible briefly, we do not expect a significant impact to the community. We are working closely with local law enforcement and emergency management agencies to help ensure site safety and security during the implosion event.
For safety and security reasons, public viewing areas will not be provided. We remind you to please heed safety signage and installed fencing around the plant for your own safety and for the safety of those working on the site.
Thank you for your support and cooperation as we work to dismantle the plant.
Please email us at GallagherProjects@Duke-Energy.com if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Luke Franklin
Midwest Regional Manager
Demolition/Retirement & Ash Basin Closure
Duke Energy
Lisa Huber
Government and
Community Relations Manager
Duke Energy
