Green completes 35 years with Associated Electric Cooperative

Green started in 1981 when the plant was staffing for its new Unit 3, and he was one of many general utility first periods hired at the time. That job entailed keeping the basement are clean of coal dust and debris, critical to preventing spontaneous combustion.

Green became an auxiliary operator within a few months, rotating between the three units, as well as the water and air plant. The latter was where water was purified for the boiler, as well made potable. The air part included the compressors that supplied air to all the units for operating equipment, such as opening valves.

Green then moved to the scrubber, a new addition that removed sulfur and particulates from flue gas before the air was released from the stacks. In the early 1990s, Green became the control room operator for the scrubber. When the plant converted to low-sulfur coal, reducing sulfur dioxide emissions more than 90 percent to meet air quality requirements, the scrubber was no longer needed, and Green was reassigned to operations as a general utility first period.

A year later, Green took a mechanics second period job in maintenance, and that’s been his department ever since. In 2007, he became a mechanical maintenance supervisor, responsible for a crew of seven and for the heating, air conditioning and ventilation technicians who manage those systems for the entire plant.

"I like my job for sure. There’s always something new coming up. There are new challenges, and we get new mechanics as people retire. Most of the new hires come into this department with a mechanical or welding background or worked as a machinist,” he said

During his years in mechanical maintenance, Mike has learned to repair all types of new equipment, from coal crushers to selective catalytic reduction equipment that removes nitrogen oxides emissions to improve air quality. “I do like a challenge,” he said. New environmental controls and safety regulations mean ongoing equipment changes and upgrades to learn. In past years, he has served on several plant committees, including safety and maintenance training.

Associated Electric Cooperative Inc. is owned by and provides wholesale power to six regional and 51 local electric cooperative systems in Missouri, southeast Iowa and northeast Oklahoma that serve more than 875,000 customers.

Associated’s mission is to provide an economical and reliable power supply and support services to its members, including the “Take Control & Save” energy efficiency program, www.TakeControlAndSave.coop. Associated is a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

An equal opportunity employer and provider/disability/veteran