The demolition of the smoke stack occurred at 8:47 AM, January 27, 2023, with a deep blast felt across the bay as gulls and birds scattered about.
The stack crumbled to the ground towards the north side of the site and disappeared in a cloud of dust.
Clearing away of debris from the 28-acre power plant site continues for an off-shore wind mill project.
*ML’s Note: In 1964 there were several stacks at the plant of the same height along with huge fuel tanks.
For over 75-years, this spot provided power by New Bedford Gas & Edison Light to the city through four major hurricanes, and two world wars. It has witnessed the end of the whaling era, saw power transition from sail, and wood to steel for the fishing fleet.
Soon, the view of the city waterfront will change dramatically with the mammoth power plant torn down. The huge boiler inside was 6-stories high.
According to Rails and Ports: The 29-acre site has been underutilized since the former New Bedford Edison generating plant’s 1992 decommissioning, serving since then as a 10-million gallon fuel storage terminal for Sprague Energy and as an industrial site for various tenants.
The city has pursued the site’s redevelopment for decades without success, until now. The offshore wind industry’s ramp-up has led a surge of interest in New England industrial ports with suitable zoning, vertical clearance and water depths.
Site Plan graphic: https://www.westislandweather.com/cannon%20st%20windmill%20project.jpg
Exclusive video by Harborcam for westislandweather.com
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Very cool,thanks for sharing that.