Evening star., 1931-06-21
NEW WPOWERPLANT
COSTING S5,ODO,OlO
BEING CONSIDERED
Auxiliary Unit Construction
Plans TentatiVe-Sites
Are Studied.
STUDY CONSTRUCTION
FOR BEAUTY OF CITY
May Try Pyramid Chimney if
Certain Points Are Selected
for Erection.

Tentative plans for construction Of
q large auxiliary power plant, with
land and equipment to cost possibly
5000, 900, are under consideration by
officials Of the Potomac Electric Power
Co., it was learned last night. The
plant would be extensible and, begin
ming with one or two power unitS-a
unit including generator, boiler, auxil-
iary boiler. stoker. ash remover. etc
would be enlarged as demands for the
service grew. eventually operating on
as large scale as the present Benning
plant.
Several locations for the new plant
have been discussed, but none decided
er company have been unwilling to dis
cuSs the plans.
Three Points Mentioned.
Geisboro Point, some location on the
other side of the river near Alexandria
and Buzzards Point have all been men,
toned The site at Buzzards Point has
been favorably considered because of
the probable extension there of Penn
sylvania freight tracks, facilitating the
delivery Of coal, and because it is also
accessible to harges, which would op-
crate from Norfolk. The differential
in freight rates on New River coal from
Norfolk by water might make the barge
delivery Of coal attractive.
One OF the factors considered in con-
nection with the new plant it is learned,
is to overcome any objections against
appearance or location which might be
voiced by the Fine Arts Commission or
the National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission. Of1cials Of the
power company, it is neared. are anxious
to make plans conform to the ideas of
the planning experts. AS power plants
are equipped with high stacks, neces-
Sary for the operation of the large boil
ers the design of the building is one
Of the difficult problems. and informal
objection to some locations has been
based on the fact that the stacks might
deleteriouSly affect the skyline, DOM
mated by the Capitol dome. Some in
dustrial plants In Germany, attractively
designed to conceal smokestacks by a
pyramid effect, have been studied with
the possibility OF applying the idea here.
Consider Bu1zards Point.
At Buzzards Point The plant would
be near the municipal trash disposal
plant which was to have been contract
ed for during the present fiscal year,
over the bids, may be POSTPONED indef-
initely. An oil tank farm Is also in the
vicinity. Despite these industrial devel-
opmentS the extension of the Anacostia
Park system includes riverside drives,
which might result In the power plants
facing on Government property, in
which case the design and appearance
would have to conform to the pro-
visions Of the ShipStead law. One of
the problems to be overcome by the
power plant, II this site were chosen,
would be to construct valves under the
driveway for the intake and discharge
Of water for cooling, which is used in
large amounts.
While 1t is understood that no time
has been fixed for beginning work on
the plant, 1t is believed that officials
OF the electric company have always
considered the possible result of tornado
or other catastrophe which. putting the
Benning plant out of commission. would
leave the city without light or power.
The only available source of current.
under such conditions. would be over
the wires Of the Washington. Baltimore
" Annapolis line. which could be util-
wed for bringing in some current from
Baltimore.
In addition. the demands for cleo
trlcfty may soon reach the point where
more generators will be demanded. The
company, 1t is understood, plans to sup
,ply these by beginning an auxiliary
plant. The subject has not been dis
cussed yet with the Public Utilities
Commission, which would have to an
prove Of the plans.