h Steam Cooperative Map,
from "Duluth District Heating,"
by Harvey E. Sandstrom, District Heating 67(2):16-36 (Fourth
Quarter 1981)|
Chronological List of District Heating
Systems in the United States |
| 1981 Duluth Steam Cooperative Map,
from "Duluth District Heating,"
by Harvey E. Sandstrom, District Heating 67(2):16-36 (Fourth
Quarter 1981) |
Duluth has had two district heating systems. The first was built in 1890 and operated until 1920. The second began service in 1932 and is still operating.
The Duluth Electric Light and Power Company installed a steam line along one block of West Michigan street in the fall of 1890 that distributed exhaust steam from their plant at 106-108 West Michigan. The company was consolidated into the Hartman General Electric Company in 1892, which built a new, larger plant at the foot of Fourth street that also supplied steam. The company became part of the Duluth Edison Electric Company in 1906, which was renamed Minnesota Power & Light Company in 1923. The Duluth company was a member of the National District Heating Association until 1924, when is probably ceased steam service.
Even as the original system was shutting down, efforts were made in the local community to develop a larger city-wide district steam system, culminating in the formation of the Duluth Steam Corporation in 1929. This firm began service in September 1932 In May 1962 the General Waterworks Corporation of Philadelphia purchased all of the common stock of the Duluth Steam Corporation.
The system was sold to the Duluth Steam Cooperative on September 28, 1978.
References
1888 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Duluth, Saint Louis County, Minnesota
Plate
6: Plant of the Duluth Electric Light and Power Company on
West Michigan street.
1890 "An Ordinance Granting to the Duluth Electric Light and Power Company the Right to Lay Certain Pipes," May 14, 1890
1891 "Exhaust
Steam for Heating," Engineering Record 23(14):231 (March 7,
1891)
Another similar construction was made for the Duluth Electric Light
Company last fall.
1895 "Steam Heat for All Twill be Furnished by Duluth Superior Traction Company," The Duluth News Tribune, May 4, 1895, Page 5.
1902 An
Ordinance Granting to Killorin Construction Company the Right to Lay
Certain Pipes in Certain Streets, Avenues and Allevs in the City of
Duluth, Minnesota. September 8, 1902
Right Granted to Lay Pipes in Commerce Street and Adjoining Public Grounds
to Supply Heat to Adjoining Buildings. Material. Approval of Board of
Public Works. Connections Made When Main Pipes Are Laid
1909 Sanborn Fire
Insurance Map from Duluth, Saint Louis County, Minnesota, Volume 2
Plate
213: Duluth Edison Electric Company
1918 "Tales
of the Town," The Duluth Rip-Saw, June 1, 1918, Page 3.
July 5, 1892, at the annual meeting of the Hartman Electric Company, a
deal was authorized whereby the company bought the stock of the two other
corporations, more or less in competition, prospectively and actually, in
the case of the Duluth Electric Light & Power Co.
The consolidation was given the name of Hartman General Electric Company.
The stock holders approved plans for a new power station capable of
operating 30,000 incandescent lights and 1,500 arc lights, as well as
supply power circuits and steam for office buildings. Officers and
directors of the Hartman General Electric Co., which eventually became the
Duluth Edison Company
1921 "No
Room Here for Sectional Heating Franchise," The Labor World,
December 3, 1921, Pages 1, 3
In the central portion of the city there is the plant of the Duluth-Edison
Electric company which is now furnishing heat to the wholesale houses
along Fifth avenue and Commerce street.
1929 "Work
to Begin on Heat Plant Within 60 Days," The Duluthian 8(5):7
(July 29, 1929)
Construction of a central heating plant costing approximately $1,250,000
will be tarted within 60 days, it was announced Wednesday.
By a 4-to-0 vote Wednesday, the city council granted a franchise to the
Duluth Steam corporation for the construction and operation of a heating
plant to furnish buildings n the central section of the city with heat.
Commissioner Chris Evens, who sponsored The franchise of the Donovan
company of St. Paul, refused to cast his vote.
Granting of the franchise assures the establishing of a heating plant to
serve the territory from Seventh Ave. W. to Third Ave. E, and from the Bay
and Lake Front to Third St. The International Capital association, New
York, affiliated with a Duluth bank, is to furnish $1,250,000 for the
construction of the plant.
J. J. Dwyer, engineer for the Duluth Steam Corporation, announced
Wednesday that plans for the heating plant and system will be placed
before the city council for approval within 30 days. Mr. Dwyer drew plans
for the plant and designed the structure which will house the generating
plant. C. O. Baldwin, senior member of the legal firm of Baldwin, Baldwin,
Mayall & Holmes, represented the company in its efforts to gain the
franchise.
A generating plant to cost approximately $900,000 will be constructed at
Third Ave. W. and Commerce St., east of the Commerce St. plant of the
Minnesota Power and Light Company, Mr. Dwyer said. The building will be
equivalent in size to an 8-story structure, and will be of brick, steel
and concrete construction.
The first unit of the plant will be ready by Dec. 15, he announced, and
all buildings below First St. will be served with heat before the first of
the year.
Following approval by the council, plans and specifications will be filed
for bids and all Duluth contractors will be invited to bid for the work,
Mr. Dwyer said.
Awarding of the franchise to the Duluth firm ended several years of effort
by Mr. Dwyer to secure permission to establish the heating system. A fight
between the four Commissioners who favored the Dwyer plan and Commissioner
Evens who desired to grant the franchise to Donovan interests preceded the
vote. The Public Utilities Commissioner sought to postpone the franchise
vote until today, but the motion was lost, 4 to 1.
The franchise is for a 25-year period, with the city having the privilege
of purchasing it after 10 years.
The steam corporation, Mr. Dwyer said, has completed a survey of all
buildings in the downtown area and is ready to proceed with the furnishing
of steam. The survey has provided the firm with the number of square feet
of radiation in each building, the amount of coal consumption, and
operating costs. This information enables proper engineering
procedure.
Mr. Dwyer will leave this week for New York to confer with capitalists,
who are aiding in the financing, concerning organization of the
directorate. Both Duluthians and easterners will be officials of the
firm.
1932 Engineering
News-Record 109:266 (1932)
Duluth Steam Heating Corporation has applied to the R.F.C. for a loan of $
1,000,000 to complete the construction of its central heating plant now
about half finished
1933 "Central Heat for Duluth," Power 77(10):514-515 (October 1933)
1934 "Central
Steam in Duluth, Minnesota," by Robert L. Fitzgerald, Bulletin
of the National District Heating Association 19(2):24-28 (January
15, 1934)
The steam generating station is located on Lake Avenue and Commerce
Street, about nine hundred feet from the load center of the district
served. The plant and distribution system were bulit in the spring and
summer of 1932, and placed in operation in September 1932.
Just at this time the city of Duluth is preparing plans for a municipal
steam project that will extend from the eastern edge of the district now
served which is 3rd Ave. East to 31st Ave. East.. It will include twenty
miles of pipe lines, 3,000 buildings and residences and about 2,250,000
square feet of radiation. This project is being planned as a Public Works
project in anticipation of federal funds for financing. If the
project goes through it contemplates purchase of steam from the Duluth
Steam Corporation for the first couple years of operation or until such
time as its load entirely absorbs the available capacity of the
corporation. The load to be served is about one-third in business
buildings, apartment houses and Institutions, the balance strictly
residential. Application for federal funds will be made before the first
of January.
1950 "Eight-inch high-pressure, concrete-encased steam main of the Duluth Steam Corporation," by John O. Haroldson, Proceedings of the National District Heating Association 41:258-267 (May 1950)
1953 "Duluth, Minnesota," by Robert L. Fitzgerald, Bulletin of the National District Heating Association 38(2):58 (January 1953)
1977 Duluth
News Tribune, Aug. 19, 1977
Duluth Mayor Robert Beaudin said yesterday the city may become a partner
in a cooperative to purchase the Duluth Steam Corporation plant. Company
officials have said they will abandon the operation because customers have
balked at rate increases needed to purchase pollution control equipment.
1981 "Duluth District Heating," by Harvey E. Sandstrom, District Heating 67(2):16-36 (Fourth Quarter 1981)
2016 "Dayton
bonding plan has $21 million for Duluth heating system, $27.2 million
for UMD science building," Duluth News Tribune, January 15,
2016
Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton on Friday proposed a $1.4 billion state
construction package that includes $21 million to convert the downtown
Duluth steam heating system to hot water.
2022 Nine Decades of District Energy in Duluth, Ever-Green Energy, December 28, 2022
.
© 2024 Morris A. Pierce