Portsmouth, NH. May 24, 2006****Construction work associated with Public Service of New Hampshire’s Northern Wood Power Project continues at Schiller Station in Portsmouth. The project is more than 90 percent complete and is entering a final phase which will include extensive testing of its various components.
A series of steam releases through the new boiler will take place over a ten day period, between 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m., beginning on or about Friday, June 2nd. The steam releases are part of the preparation for the start-up operation of the wood-fired boiler. It is anticipated that the new boiler will be operational in late summer or early fall.
Engineers will attempt to mitigate sound as much as possible, including the placement of the steam release vents behind existing structures, but the sound of the releases is likely to be audible in the area. About one release per hour will take place, each lasting about one minute in duration. PSNH will notify residents in the area neighborhoods of the temporary releases.
The Northern Wood Power Project includes the replacement of a coal-fired 50 megawatt boiler with a boiler capable of burning clean wood chips. More information on the project is available at www.psnh.com.