High Bridge
Since 1923, the High Bridge power plant has been part of the skyline in St. Paul, Minnesota, providing power to the offices, businesses, and residents of the Twin City community. But the skyline has changed. The plant’s owner, Xcel Energy, replaced the old coal-fired plant with a combined-cycle natural gas facility that is larger, cleaner, and more energy efficient.
Project Overview
The High Bridge plant in St. Paul, which used coal to generate electricity, has been converted to a natural gas-powered facility. The new plant produces twice as much energy, reduces emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter by more than 90 percent. The plant is also designed to eliminate mercury emissions and reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 66 percent.
Planning
CH2M HILL provided engineering, procurement, and construction services for the new High Bridge plant, which generates more than double the previous output and enough additional electricity to power nearly 300,000 homes. Working with Xcel Energy, the CH2M HILL team built multiple features into the design and construction that provide environmental, financial, and community benefits, including:
- Increased plant efficiency, providing Xcel Energy a higher return on investment.
- A combination of natural gas and steam turbines - 30 percent more efficient than a conventional steam plant.
- Reduced emissions improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- Reduced carbon dioxide emissions by as much as 415,000 tons per year, along with reductions in other emissions.
- A visually pleasing exterior exceeds community expectations.
- Housed inside an 11-story, 130,000-square-foot building.
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- "I’m very pleased that the High Bridge project team has received this Minnesota OSHA award. Safety is a core value at CH2M HILL for all of our construction projects throughout the world, and this is evidence of our ongoing commitment to our people and clients."
- — Lee McIntire
- President and Chief Operating Officer, CH2M HILL