Implosion Brings Down Another North Lake Power Plant Structure
COPPELL (CBSDFW.COM) – The next stage of demolition for the decommissioned North Lake power plant near the corner of LBJ and Belt Line Road finished Friday morning.
Coppell residents felt a low rumble as the second of three planned implosions brought down yet another portion of the plant, which is owned by Luminant Energy.
Police cleared the area and a siren sounded for several minutes. Just after 10 a.m., the building began to lean and then crumbled in front of a handful of people who pulled over to watch.
"It was so fast and it made a huge explosion," said 12-year-old Nick Rathe, who watched the implosion. "My whole body's just shaking."
Neighbors said the first implosion, which occurred on April 14, came without warning –– some thought a bomb went off. This time, the city put notices on the doors of nearby homes in an effort to notify residents of the second implosion.
"We really thought a plane exploded or a bomb, terrorist bomb," said Brian Rathe, a spectator and Nick's father. "I mean, it just shook the whole foundation of our house."
Out of use for a number of years, the property on the north side of the lake where the plant resides has been purchased by the city of Coppell. A spokesman said it may be used for police or fire training.
On the south side of the lake, meanwhile, a developer has plans for a new mixed-use development.
Officials with Luminant say there has been no date set for the third and final portion of the implosion.
"It's just been a part of Coppell for so long," said Shella Opry, another spectator. "I think it's a sign of progress."
The power plant dates back to 1959, but has been in various stages of limited operation since the mid 2000s because of high operation costs. Last year, Luminant's Dallas-based parent company announced it would be shutting down a number of plants to meet new federal clean air standards.
