Watson Generating Station

Mass. Electric Construction Co. (MEC) and a team of six contractors were given limited notice to proceed on the construction of the new 116MW Thomas A. Watson Generating Station in December 2007. MEC was the prime electrical subcontractor for the $10.2M engineer-procure and construct (EPC) contract.

The project consisted of the installation of two new 50MW, gas turbine Rolls Royce Generators, connected to two new, 70MVA transformers (GSU’s). The equipment feeds the power grid at 115KV. The new station was built on two acres of land adjacent to the existing Potter II Power Plant, in Braintree, Massachusetts. The turbines and GSU’s were supplied by the owner. 

MEC’s portion of the contract included the installation of: 

• 15KV switches
• Service Station Transformers 
• MV starters for gas compressors
• (4) 480V switchgear Motor Control Centers
• EEE structure to house the electrical equipment
• All conduit and wiring (extensively in duct banks)
• Ancillary electrical equipment

The two units lower electric costs for Braintree residents. In 2010, the Station was named one of the fourteen best power plants in the work by Diesel & Gas Turbine Worldwide magazine.