Four catalytic converters were installed last week at the Auburn Board of Public Works (BPW) power plant. Two more will be installed when a 200-ton crane becomes available. Units 4 and 7 will require the larger crane, said Melissa Sierks, BPW accounting and finance manager.

When the converters were brought in to the plant, she said a 90-ton crane was used to lift them up on the roof. That task caused a temporary closing of 15th Street near the plant. The new converters are from DCL.
“I can’t believe how quickly we’re getting it done,” Sierks said.
MidStates Erectors, Inc. of Waverly is installing the converters. Work started Monday, Nov. 19. The first four were installed by Nov. 21.
“They [catalytic converters] had to be brought in from P Street and were lifted onto the roof of the building. It’s not good to operate a crane around power lines. It’s been a good project and we’re getting it done quickly,” Sierks said.
Mike Kralik, BPW production manager, said the installation went a lot better than he thought it would.
It is hoped to complete installation this week, BPW officials said.
The converters place BPW in compliance with the Reciprocal Internal Combustion Engines regulation. That is an Environmental Protection Agency ruling which stated that engines subject to the rule must have catalytic converters installed on them by May 2013 or they will no longer be allowed to operate.
“We didn’t want to wait because we may not have the option of obtaining a contractor and completing the work in a timely manner,” Sierks said.