As the aging Pine Street Station served as the first power generating facility for the Grand Island Utilities Department, the C.W. Burdick Station became Grand Island Utilities Department second power generating facility.

The facility was named after Clarence W. Burdick, who served as the commissioner of the Grand Island Water, Light & Ice Dept. from October 6th, 1920 to November 30th, 1960.  Mr. Burdick was a very progressive yet conservative director of utilities. He realized the importance of adequate and dependable supplies of electricity and water.

During the years 1956 to 1981, Burdick Station was the primary location where Grand Island's electricity was generated and distributed. Burdick Station also became the central control center for the pumping and quality control of Grand Island's domestic water supply.  In 1982, the Platte Generating Station came on line producing 100 megawatts.  Today, the Platte Generating Station (PGS) serves as GIUD's primary electric power generator, as PGS uses abundant, inexpensive, low sulfur coal, and Burdick burns more expensive natural gas and fuel oil. 

Today, Burdick Station serves Grand Island as a 187.5 megawatt standby power generating facility and serves as a control center for Grand Island's domestic water supply. Burdick Station generally produces electric power in the summer months as Nebraska's heat and humidity increases the demand for electricity, or when the Platte Generating Station (PGS) is shut down for maintenance.  The 100 megawatt Platte Generating Station currently serves GIUD as it's primary power generator.  PGS uses abundant, inexpensive, low sulfur coal to produce electric power and the Burdick uses expensive natural gas and #6 fuel oil to produce electric power.

In 2002, GIUD purchased two natural gas fired combustion turbine-generators.  The two gas fired combustion turbine-generators were placed into  commercial service in 2003 and produce 40 megawatts each using environmentally friendly natural gas.  Burdick Station is the largest electric power production facility in Grand Island.  With the newly added capacity at Burdick Station, the total GIUD generating capacity is increased to 287.5 megawatts.   Click here to view the information on our new gas turbine generators.

Burdick Station Generation Profile

The C.W. Burdick Station will serve the citizens of Grand Island well into the foreseeable future as continued maintenance and upgrades to systems at the plant are have been completed, and with the addition of new generating capacity in 2003. New digital control systems that help maximize power production efficiency and monitor plant emissions have been installed for all three steam units and gas turbine #1.

Control of Grand Island's domestic water supply originates from Burdick Station. Grand Island Utilities Department uses an integrated system of wells and pumps all operated from Burdick station via remote control to manage water pressure through 200 miles of water distribution lines. In all, a total of eight high pressure pumps, four low pressure pumps, seven high pressure wells, and 26 low pressure wells supply water for Grand Island. All wells and pumps are electric driven, except for one large diesel high pressure water pump for use at times when electric power for water pumping may be interrupted.

Grand Island Utilities Water Statistics

C. W. Burdick Station Contacts

Mailing address: P.O. Box 1968, Grand Island, Nebraska 68802-1968

Location: The C.W. Burdick Station is located in east-central Grand Island at the intersection of South Cherry and East Bischeld Street, behind (east) the Phelps Control Center. Street address is 800 East Bischeld  Street. C. W. Burdick Station is open to the public during our regular business hours of Monday through Friday (except holidays) from 7 AM to 3:30 PM. All visitors must check into the office located on the south side of main building (plant) immediately upon entering the site. Anyone planning to enter the plant site after regular business hours should make prior arrangements.

Contacts-

• General Information,  Larry Keown, Plant Superintendent, 308-385-5491   Fax 308-382-8198.

Copyright © 2001 Grand Island Utilities Department   - Web site information page
This page was last updated on 03/08/08