Almost there… Wolverine generation crews work tirelessly to bring Alpine Generating plant to full power. They continue to perform commissioning tests on Unit #2, while they wring out the bugs on Unit #1, which they expect to bring to full load early next week. This project has been a grind for our employees. We gave them a compressed schedule and asked them to bring the station on-line prior to this summer. As a result, they’ve worked many long days to lead this project across the finish line.
The big equipment certainly commands attention. It’s heavy, impressive and expensive. Without the gas turbine, we can’t spin the generator. Without the generator, we don’t need the gas turbine engine. Just like it is with good teams, the role players make the difference, and the role players on the generator skid are the auxiliary equipment that keep the big stuff cool, fed with fuel, lubricated, protected and properly controlled. Each of these systems must be wrung out, tested, and fully functioning in order for our big generators to function properly. These systems provide most of the headaches and head scratching problems during start up.
Fortunately, Wolverine is blessed with what I believe to be the best turbine operating crew around. Our crews understand these machines, how to commission them safely, and how to troubleshoot problems when they arise. In addition, we have Instrumentation & Control technicians who can troubleshoot bad wiring and control system problems that often plague system startups. Lastly, Tyler Bruning and Matt Boersema responded to troubleshoot a protection error in one of our vendor designs, working with Wolverine’s relay and I&C technicians, Mike Lovelace, Scott Smith, Bob Smith, and Jeremy Fortier to diagnose and fix some relaying and protection flaws.
While I am clearly excited to see 400 MW of station output in the coming days, I am mostly struck by the talent and work ethic of Wolverine’s employees. I am incredibly proud of their work and what they constructed to serve our members for the next forty years.
This has been an awesome project to have been a small part of. As Eric stated, this effort could not be successful without the expertise and experience of so many dedicated and hardworking Wolverine staff. Thanks for everyone’s effort! Proud to be part of the Wolverine team.
Job well done. How awarding. Thank you for all the long days & hours, Your families should also be thanked for the time without their husbands, fathers. You should be so proud. To