by Diane Norek Harrison
SOUTH AMBOY-The following is from my cousin John E. Cooney: “The ‘Old Plant’ was built in the late 1920s. Then, I believe, the new extension was added in 1954 and produced 60 MW of electricity, enough to power about 24,000 homes. Coal was the main fuel and delivered by barge. The plant stopped burning coal the mid-1970s because of environmental regulations. The main fuel then was #6 oil also called ‘bunker C’. Werner Station never used natural gas for a fuel like Sayreville Station did. Oil was also delivered by barge. The ‘Old Plant’ was retired long before I started in 1978.”
More next week!
If you have your own memories of the past in Middlesex or Union counties, email me at dianenorekharrison@verizon.net or send copies of your material to me c/o CMD Media, 1139 East Jersey St., Suite 503, Elizabeth NJ 07201
