BAKERSFIELD, CA -- The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has granted PG&E permission to move forward with the remaining demolition work at the Kern Power Plant site. The work will be conducted by Silverado Contractors, Inc., a union demolition contractor, according to Katie Allen, the utility's corporate relations representative for Kern County.
The initial effort to demolish the power plant on Rosedale Highway in Bakersfield went dangerously awry in August, when debris from a planned implosion left a spectator with serious leg injuries. The injured man, Jerry Wood, was among hundreds of people who gathered to watch the demolition in a perimeter area set aside for spectators. The perimeter was designated by workers for the company assigned to carry out the demolition.
When contacted by 17 News, Allen, the PG&E spokeswoman, refused to answer questions about the significance of the CPUC's decision, and whether it signaled an end to the agency's investigation of the demolition accident. In a statement, Allen said PG&E is dedicated to fully and safely cleaning up the Kern Power Plant site. Silverado Contractors was selected based on its extensive power plant and heavy industry demolition experience, as well as its strong safety record, her statement said.
Large equipment will be used to dismantle the remaining debris, which is expected to take about ten weeks to complete. Immediately following, soil remediation will begin, which will likely take several years, according to the utility's statement.
The initial effort to demolish the power plant on Rosedale Highway in Bakersfield went dangerously awry in August, when debris from a planned implosion left a spectator with serious leg injuries. The injured man, Jerry Wood, was among hundreds of people who gathered to watch the demolition in a perimeter area set aside for spectators. The perimeter was designated by workers for the company assigned to carry out the demolition.
When contacted by 17 News, Allen, the PG&E spokeswoman, refused to answer questions about the significance of the CPUC's decision, and whether it signaled an end to the agency's investigation of the demolition accident. In a statement, Allen said PG&E is dedicated to fully and safely cleaning up the Kern Power Plant site. Silverado Contractors was selected based on its extensive power plant and heavy industry demolition experience, as well as its strong safety record, her statement said.
Large equipment will be used to dismantle the remaining debris, which is expected to take about ten weeks to complete. Immediately following, soil remediation will begin, which will likely take several years, according to the utility's statement.