GENERATOR DESTROYED

GLENNONVILLE -- A $5 million generator that had been shipped from Germany to rural Glennonville in Dunklin County was destroyed when it was dropped from a crane onto a platform.

The generator was part of the equipment needed in the construction of a $100 million, 250-megawatt conbined-cycle electric generation plant.

The generator was transported to the plant by a special heavy hauling and rigging company on a 64-wheel vehicle. The company had the responsibility of setting the generator on its platform.

Special rigging and a crane was being used to lift the generator into position when the mishap occurred.

"We have already made arrangements for shipment of a replacement generator," said Warren Mikol of Siemens Power Corp. of Milwaukee, Wis.. He is manager of the Glennonville project.

The new generator will be shipped from Germany in September and should arrive at the project site in October, said Mikol.

"The delay should not effect the mid-1999 opening date," said Mikol. The new facility is scheduled to be operational during summer 1999.

Siemens Power Corp. is overseeing construction of the facility, located near AECI's existing transmission lines west of Glennonville. Electricity produced by the plant will be jointly marketed by Associated Electric Cooperative Inc. and Duke Energy Trading & Marketing.