ENR 2024 Midwest Best Projects
Award of Merit, Energy/Industrial: Carlson Creek Switchyard
Photo courtesy of Michels Corp.
Carlson Creek Switchyard
Monon, Ind.
Award of Merit
Submitted by: Michels Power Inc.
Owner: Next Era Energy
General Contractor: Michels Power Inc.
A 345-kV switchyard and gen-tie span serves as a hub for power transmission, distribution and control, while also supporting the integration of renewable energy and ensuring grid reliability. The eight-month project included the installation of all civil work, foundations and major equipment across the site. The switchyard serves as a point of interconnection between solar generation and battery energy storage and is integrated with several transmission lines and a tie circuit from the generation step-up station. Safeguards such as circuit breakers, relays and fuses help prevent damage from electrical faults, overloads or short circuits, ensuring system reliability and personnel safety.
Integrating the switchyard into the existing power grid required ongoing coordination with utility companies, grid operators and other stakeholders. This effort ensured seamless connection, grid synchronization and compliance with grid standards.
To mitigate poor soil conditions, crews performed dewatering operations and removed, replaced or stabilized existing soils. Slurry and temporary casings helped contend with water and unstable soils while installing the deep shaft foundation. Procuring specialized equipment such as transformers, circuit breakers and control systems required coordination with suppliers and adherence to technical specifications, quality assurance and logistics management. Despite extremely aggressive in-service schedule and procurement lead times, the project was completed on time and within budget.
