Wait till you see this. Holy Shit. What a Load of Crap
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
N.P. plant expansion stopped
By AMANDA BOHMAN
Sunday, September 11, 2005 - , Staff Writer
The contractor on a $75 million project to expand the North Pole power plant essentially quit last week, with 70 percent of the plant yet to be built, according to Dianne Porter, spokeswoman for Golden Valley Electric Association Inc.
HC Price Co., an international pipeline and power-plant building firm, gave GVEA notice it planned to lay off workers and transfer control of the project back to GVEA, Porter said. The move came after the contractor told the utility that the project was over-budget and behind schedule, the spokeswoman said.
When the utility was told of the problems, it asked HC Price to discontinue work. Porter said that meant some work continued, but the two sides entered into talks.
The talks reportedly ended Thursday when HC Price decided to bow out.
"This is not unheard of in the construction world," Porter said. "Both parties are still proceeding in a spirit of cooperation."
Multiple calls to HC Price offices in Anchorage were not returned.
Construction work will be scaled back to time- and weather-dependent activities, Porter said. For example, welding will continue on a heat-recovery steam generator, because special equipment had to be rented.
"We already have that equipment on site, so HC Price will stay and finish up that area," Porter said.
GVEA employees will determine how the project will proceed in the long term, Porter said. The first priority is to construct a roof and walls before winter hits, she said.
"We're still going to finish the plant," the spokeswoman said.
Why the project slipped behind schedule and leaped over budget is unclear. Porter did not provide details.
A former worker on the project who contacted the News-Miner blamed mismanagement by HC Price. The employee, Russell Smith, who belongs to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, said he was fired two weeks ago after being accused of creating a "work stoppage." Others were laid off or fired for trivial reasons, Smith said.
"We fought with management," Smith said. "They just didn't know what they were doing."
GVEA is expanding the power plant to help meet projected future needs, according to the utility's Web site. Demand is expected to increase in the coming years because of the national missile defense system at Fort Greely, Pogo Gold Mine and the electrification of Alyeska Pipeline Service Co.'s Pump Station 9.
The expansion is supposed to be finished in the spring of 2006.
Reporter Amanda Bohman can be reached at abohman@newsminer.com or 459-7544.
Well I can tell you why we slipped behind schedule and leaped over budget. But I see that Ms. Porter conveniently left that out. And it is always a reliable quote when you get it from a fired ex employee. Sure he knows all about management that is why he is an electrician and not a manager. As for fighting management I am sure the only time he saw the project manager is during weekly safety meetings.
N.P. plant expansion stopped
By AMANDA BOHMAN
Sunday, September 11, 2005 - , Staff Writer
The contractor on a $75 million project to expand the North Pole power plant essentially quit last week, with 70 percent of the plant yet to be built, according to Dianne Porter, spokeswoman for Golden Valley Electric Association Inc.
HC Price Co., an international pipeline and power-plant building firm, gave GVEA notice it planned to lay off workers and transfer control of the project back to GVEA, Porter said. The move came after the contractor told the utility that the project was over-budget and behind schedule, the spokeswoman said.
When the utility was told of the problems, it asked HC Price to discontinue work. Porter said that meant some work continued, but the two sides entered into talks.
The talks reportedly ended Thursday when HC Price decided to bow out.
"This is not unheard of in the construction world," Porter said. "Both parties are still proceeding in a spirit of cooperation."
Multiple calls to HC Price offices in Anchorage were not returned.
Construction work will be scaled back to time- and weather-dependent activities, Porter said. For example, welding will continue on a heat-recovery steam generator, because special equipment had to be rented.
"We already have that equipment on site, so HC Price will stay and finish up that area," Porter said.
GVEA employees will determine how the project will proceed in the long term, Porter said. The first priority is to construct a roof and walls before winter hits, she said.
"We're still going to finish the plant," the spokeswoman said.
Why the project slipped behind schedule and leaped over budget is unclear. Porter did not provide details.
A former worker on the project who contacted the News-Miner blamed mismanagement by HC Price. The employee, Russell Smith, who belongs to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, said he was fired two weeks ago after being accused of creating a "work stoppage." Others were laid off or fired for trivial reasons, Smith said.
"We fought with management," Smith said. "They just didn't know what they were doing."
GVEA is expanding the power plant to help meet projected future needs, according to the utility's Web site. Demand is expected to increase in the coming years because of the national missile defense system at Fort Greely, Pogo Gold Mine and the electrification of Alyeska Pipeline Service Co.'s Pump Station 9.
The expansion is supposed to be finished in the spring of 2006.
Reporter Amanda Bohman can be reached at abohman@newsminer.com or 459-7544.
Well I can tell you why we slipped behind schedule and leaped over budget. But I see that Ms. Porter conveniently left that out. And it is always a reliable quote when you get it from a fired ex employee. Sure he knows all about management that is why he is an electrician and not a manager. As for fighting management I am sure the only time he saw the project manager is during weekly safety meetings.