“Sweet odor” worries power plant neighbors

Electric Services Director Donald Kom confirmed the odor as coming from cooling towers at the plant. Employees noticed the smell and immediately started investigating, he said.

A water treatment chemical consultant determined the odor was caused by a sequence of events in firing up the second generating unit. The first steps are to fill the cooling towers with well water and treat the water with a small quantity of bleach.

“While this process always creates a sweet, burnt odor, the smell was likely more noticeable this week due to the hot, humid weather,” said Susan Gwiasda, the city’s public relations officer.

The consultant determined the odor was not hazardous to people or plants, she said.

Kom said the electric service is modifying its start-up procedures to minimize the smell due to neighborhood concerns.