URE Members Explore Cardinal Plant

Their Trusted Source For Reliable, Affordable Electricity

1 time a year, the Cardinal Power Plant invites its electric cooperative members to tour the 1 mile-long coal-fired generation facility along the Ohio River. The walking tour, open to any electric cooperative member, is guided by a Buckeye Power engineer, who provides co-op members PPE gear, a plethora of knowledge, and coal plant pride as they get up close to a working coal-fired generating unit.

On September 13, Union Rural Electric Cooperative (URE) treated 30 members to a luxury coach ride from Coach Quarters, an educational tour of the plant, and lunch at Theo’s Family Restaurant in Cambridge, Ohio.

A total of 305 tour guests from 13 cooperatives and OEC’s corporate office were joined by 6 coal miners from Tunnel Ridge Coal Mine, who wanted to see where their hard work goes next in the process of producing electricity. Cardinal Plant purchases coal from the nearby Tunnel Ridge mine in West Virginia.

The tour began with a video of Cardinal Plant’s history and how Ohio’s cooperatives came together to ensure their members would have a reliable source for generating electricity for generations to come. It went on to explain how electricity is made in one of the plant’s three units, and how, through the decades, Cardinal Plant has invested more than $1 billion to make it 1 of the most innovative and environmentally responsible coal plants in the world.

Next, co-op members were off on their walking tour to see the 19-story boiler, the giant turbine, and the cooling tower in action, as they work together to produce electricity — 1800 megawatts total for Cardinal Plant, enough to power more than half a million homes and businesses across Ohio. Ohio electric cooperative members also got the opportunity to meet the hardworking team of men and women who keep the plant operating, and their lights on, 24/7/365.

Cardinal Plant is 1 of only 4 coal plants still operating today in Ohio. There were 21 in 2009. Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives, Buckeye Power, and Cardinal Plant are committed to generating reliable, environmentally responsible, affordable electricity for cooperative members for decades to come.

Members “Feedback”

The Cardinal Plant Tour was fantastic! I never could have imagined the totality of power generation, including the use of the by-products. Amazing. Our tour guide was Bill, highest regard. – Paulette P

Great educational trip. Lunch was delicious. – Dennis E

I really enjoyed this tour and would recommend it to my peers. What else more can I say? I greatly appreciated it. – Dahua H

I enjoyed the tour! I learned a lot more about how electricity is generated and have more appreciation for the consistent service that we all have grown accustomed to. I also really appreciate everything being free of charge. Well done! Well-organized, informational, and fun! Thank you – Brian S

The Cardinal Plant Tour was amazing, very informative tour. I learned a lot about what it takes to produce electricity, something we often take for granted. Thank you for offering this experience – Gary B