Vicinity Energy held a ceremonial wrench turning kicking off construction of its 9-megawatt electric boiler in its downtown Grand Rapids power plant producing carbon-free thermal energy.
It’s a new clean technology using electricity instead of natural gas to produce eSteam.
Vice President and General Manager Jesse Douglas says it’s a key step in the company’s decarbonization plan and will drive the city’s clean energy future.
“Over the next 10,15,20 years we’ll install and develop new technology to implement into the facility to continue its evolution to serve the community but it do it in the best and cleanest way possible.”
Vicinity Energy’s system has fueled downtown Grand Rapids since 1897, currently serving 112 properties with heating and cooling including hospitals, universities, hotels and residential/commercial buildings.
Douglas notes it’s the facility’s first new boiler in 60 years, powering the future in a building with special connections to the past.
“In a year we’re going to be throwing the switch to turn this system on but back here in 1888 Thomas Edison was the person who threw the switch to turn the facility on for the first time.”
The boiler is expected to go into service in 2026 and is only the second of its kind in the United States.
