Trenton Channel Power Plant
Encyclopedia
The Trenton Channel Power Plant, also known as the Trenton Stacks, is a coal-burning power station located in Trenton
, Michigan
. Completed in 1949, it is owned and operated by Detroit Edison
, a subsidiary of DTE Energy
.
Much of the facility's property is on the mainland surrounding West Jefferson Avenue
in southern Wayne County
. The main building — the two smokestack
power station — is the only portion located on what is now technically the southern portion of Slocum's Island
in the Detroit River
. The facility shares this island with Elizabeth Park, which is separated from the facility by Grosse Ile Parkway. The Trenton Channel Power Station and the affiliated Sibley Quarry occupy 458 acres (1.85 km²) of land along the Detroit River, in which 225 acres (0.91 km²) of that property is open fields, woods, ponds, and sound berm
s.
The characteristic striped smokestack
s were constructed with an innovative “smokestack within a smokestack” design to reduce the level of pollutants released. However, to better achieve this, the inner smokestacks were lined with asbestos
that had to be later removed at great cost.
Despite its nature, the power plant works closely with environmental organizations to ensure the area is free of pollutants. Committed to reducing pollution and preserving the environment around Elizabeth Park, the Trenton Channel Power Plant became ISO 14001
certified in 2001. In 2002, the facility was designated a corporate wildlife habitat
by the Wildlife Habitat Council. For their efforts, the Trenton Channel Power Plant and Sibley Quarry were co-awarded the Wildlife Habitat Council's Corporate Habitat of the Year award in 2004. The Trenton Channel Power Plant has also donated money and worked closely with Elizabeth Park and the Wayne County Department of Public Services for continued ecological preservation.
DTE Energy spreads crushed limestone along the banks of the Detroit River on Slocum's Island, because such an item provides a popular nesting habitat for native common terns
. Common terns were once plentiful in the region before industrialism drove out all but a small number of them. The banks of the Detroit River near the Trenton Channel Power Plant are one of the only places in the region where common terns regularly nest and breed. Other birds, such as bald eagles
, peregrine falcons
, and great blue herons
also use the grounds for habitat.
Trenton, Michigan
Trenton is a small city in Wayne County in the southeast portion of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 18,853...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. Completed in 1949, it is owned and operated by Detroit Edison
Detroit Edison
The Detroit Edison Company, founded in 1903, is an investor-owned electric utility which serves most of Southeast Michigan. Its parent company, DTE Energy , provides energy services to a variety of clients beyond Detroit Edison's service area.- History :...
, a subsidiary of DTE Energy
DTE Energy
DTE Energy Co. is a Detroit, Michigan-based utility incorporated in 1995 involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services nationwide....
.
Much of the facility's property is on the mainland surrounding West Jefferson Avenue
Jefferson Avenue (Detroit)
Jefferson Avenue is a scenic road along the eastern part of the Detroit metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Michigan. It travels alongside Lake Erie, the Detroit River, and Lake Saint Clair. This road also provides access to many recreational facilities in the area...
in southern Wayne County
Wayne County, Michigan
-History:Wayne County was one of the first counties formed when the Northwest Territory was organized. It was named for the American general "Mad Anthony" Wayne. It originally encompassed the entire area of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, as well as small sections that are now part of northern...
. The main building — the two smokestack
Chimney
A chimney is a structure for venting hot flue gases or smoke from a boiler, stove, furnace or fireplace to the outside atmosphere. Chimneys are typically vertical, or as near as possible to vertical, to ensure that the gases flow smoothly, drawing air into the combustion in what is known as the...
power station — is the only portion located on what is now technically the southern portion of Slocum's Island
Elizabeth Park (Michigan)
Elizabeth Park is a county park mostly located on an artificial island in the Detroit River in southern Wayne County, Michigan. The park is sometimes but rarely referred to as Slocum's Island — the historic name of the island on which the park is located...
in the Detroit River
Detroit River
The Detroit River is a strait in the Great Lakes system. The name comes from the French Rivière du Détroit, which translates literally as "River of the Strait". The Detroit River has served an important role in the history of Detroit and is one of the busiest waterways in the world. The river...
. The facility shares this island with Elizabeth Park, which is separated from the facility by Grosse Ile Parkway. The Trenton Channel Power Station and the affiliated Sibley Quarry occupy 458 acres (1.85 km²) of land along the Detroit River, in which 225 acres (0.91 km²) of that property is open fields, woods, ponds, and sound berm
Berm
A berm is a level space, shelf, or raised barrier separating two areas. Berm originates in the Middle Dutch and German berme and came into usage in English via French.- History :...
s.
The characteristic striped smokestack
Chimney
A chimney is a structure for venting hot flue gases or smoke from a boiler, stove, furnace or fireplace to the outside atmosphere. Chimneys are typically vertical, or as near as possible to vertical, to ensure that the gases flow smoothly, drawing air into the combustion in what is known as the...
s were constructed with an innovative “smokestack within a smokestack” design to reduce the level of pollutants released. However, to better achieve this, the inner smokestacks were lined with asbestos
Asbestos
Asbestos is a set of six naturally occurring silicate minerals used commercially for their desirable physical properties. They all have in common their eponymous, asbestiform habit: long, thin fibrous crystals...
that had to be later removed at great cost.
Despite its nature, the power plant works closely with environmental organizations to ensure the area is free of pollutants. Committed to reducing pollution and preserving the environment around Elizabeth Park, the Trenton Channel Power Plant became ISO 14001
ISO 14000
The ISO 14000 environmental management standards exist to help organizations minimize how their operations negatively affect the environment The ISO 14000 environmental management standards exist to help organizations (a) minimize how their operations (processes etc.) negatively affect the...
certified in 2001. In 2002, the facility was designated a corporate wildlife habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
by the Wildlife Habitat Council. For their efforts, the Trenton Channel Power Plant and Sibley Quarry were co-awarded the Wildlife Habitat Council's Corporate Habitat of the Year award in 2004. The Trenton Channel Power Plant has also donated money and worked closely with Elizabeth Park and the Wayne County Department of Public Services for continued ecological preservation.
DTE Energy spreads crushed limestone along the banks of the Detroit River on Slocum's Island, because such an item provides a popular nesting habitat for native common terns
Common Tern
The Common Tern is a seabird of the tern family Sternidae. This bird has a circumpolar distribution, breeding in temperate and sub-Arctic regions of Europe, Asia and east and central North America. It is strongly migratory, wintering in coastal tropical and subtropical regions. It is sometimes...
. Common terns were once plentiful in the region before industrialism drove out all but a small number of them. The banks of the Detroit River near the Trenton Channel Power Plant are one of the only places in the region where common terns regularly nest and breed. Other birds, such as bald eagles
Bald Eagle
The Bald Eagle is a bird of prey found in North America. It is the national bird and symbol of the United States of America. This sea eagle has two known sub-species and forms a species pair with the White-tailed Eagle...
, peregrine falcons
Peregrine Falcon
The Peregrine Falcon , also known as the Peregrine, and historically as the Duck Hawk in North America, is a widespread bird of prey in the family Falconidae. A large, crow-sized falcon, it has a blue-gray back, barred white underparts, and a black head and "moustache"...
, and great blue herons
Great Blue Heron
The Great Blue Heron is a large wading bird in the heron family Ardeidae, common near the shores of open water and in wetlands over most of North and Central America as well as the West Indies and the Galápagos Islands. It is a rare vagrant to Europe, with records from Spain, the Azores and England...
also use the grounds for habitat.
External links
- EPA Facility Detail Report for the Trenton Channel Power Plant