Mr. HORAN. Is this in connection with the powerplant? (Discussion off the record.) Mr. HORAN. When we entered into this revision of the Capitol Power Plant we were told, as I recall, we were going to save about half a million dollars on a prorated basis over the operation of the old powerplant. Mr. STEWART. We have; there is no doubt about that. But we are expanding the services of the plant. Mr. STEED. Since these two items on the expansion of facilities will not be in the bill this year, I wonder if you could prepare a brief summary of the work done, the amounts involved, and so forth, for the record and wind that up? Mr. STEWART. I shall be very happy to. Mr. STEED. And also some comment on what the future needs and problems might bring up. Mr. STEWART. Yes, sir. (The information requested follows:) CAPITOL POWER PLANT CHANGES AND IMPROVEMENTS, PUBLIC LAW 413, 81sT CONGRESS STATUS OF PROJECT, MAY 3, 1961 The legislation enacted under Public Law 413, 81st Congress, approved October 26, 1949, as amended by Public Law 624, 84th Congress, approved June 27, 1956, authorized and directed the Architect of the Capitol to effect the following major improvements: 1. Conversion of the electrical lighting and power systems and electrically driven equipment in all buildings and grounds under the jurisdiction of the Architect of the Capitol, including the refrigeration and steamplants, from 25cycle and direct-current power to 60-cycle alternating-current power. 2. Installation of new coal-fired steam generators, including necessary auxiliary equipment, in the existing Capitol Power Plant building, such steam generators to have sufficient capacity for heating the Capitol Building, the two Senate Office Buildings, the two House Office Buildings, the two Library Buildings, the Supreme Court Building, the Botanic Garden, the legislative garage, the city post office, and the Government Printing Office; and also including reserve capacity for the proposed east front extension of the Capitol. 3. Construction of a new walk-through tunnel, including branch tunnels, from the Capitol Power Plant to the Senate Office Building, to be routed under North Carolina Avenue SE., Second Street SE. and NE., Constitution Avenue NE. and C Street NE. 4. Installation in the new walk-through tunnel of duplicate steam supply lines and a condensate return line to distribute steam from the Capitol Power Plant for heating the two Library Buildings, the Supreme Court Building, the two Senate Office Buildings, the legislative garage, the city post office and the Government Printing Office. 5. Installation in the new walk-through tunnel of two large pipelines to distribute chilled water from the Capitol Power Plant for cooling and conditioning the Library Annex Building, the Supreme Court Building and the two Senate Office Buildings; including provisions for the future cooling and conditioning requirements of the main Library Building. 6. Installation of new refrigeration compressors at the Capitol Power Plant, including necessary auxiliary equipment, in the existing Capitol Power Plant building, such refrigeration compressors to have sufficient capacity for cooling and conditioning the Capitol Building, the two Senate Office Buildings, the two House Office Buildings, the Library Annex Building and the Supreme Court Building; and also including sufficient reserve capacity for the proposed east front extension of the Capitol, and the eventual cooling and conditioning of the main Library Building. 7. Installation of a new cooling tower and necessary condenser water pumps on the Capitol Power Plant grounds to supplant the old pumphouse on the Anacostia River, and the installation of condenser water piping between the cooling tower and the new refrigeration compressors in the Capitol Power Plant building. 8. Installation of a high-voltage transformer substation on the Capitol Power Plants grounds to receive and distribute purchased electrical energy to the new refrigeration compressors, chilled water pumps, condenser water pumps, cooling tower fans, steam plant auxiliaries, and other electrical equipment in the Capitol Power Plant. As of the date of this report the electrical lighting and power systems in the Old Senate Office Building, the two House Office Buildings, the two Library Buildings, the Supreme Court Building, the legislative garage, the Botanic Garden and in the Capitol Power Plant have been converted to 60-cycle power operation. The conversion of the systems in the Capitol Building is now in progress and will be completed in the early part of 1963. The construction of the walk-through tunnel and the installation of its piping systems was completed in 1953. The work of removing eight obsolete steam boilers and installing three modern generators and auxiliary equipment in the reconstructed portion of the old boilerhouse was completed in 1954. Since that time the new installations have been in continuous operation and the predicted economy is being realized. The work of removing six obsolete refrigeration compressors and installing four modern refrigeration machines, three chilled water pumps, new piping, and auxiliary equipment in the existing refrigeration apparatus room of the Capitol Power Plant was completed in 1957. Two of the four new refrigeration compressors were placed in operation in 1956, and the second pair was placed in operation in 1957. The new cooling tower and condenser water pump installations were completed and placed in operation in 1956, simultaneously with the operation of the first pair of new refrigeration compressors. At the same time the operation of the old river pumphouse was discontinued. The new high-voltage transformer substation was completed and placed in operation in 1956, simultaneously with the operation of the first pair of new refrigeration compressors, cooling tower, and condenser water pump installations. By the exercise of meticulous planning, precise scheduling, constant vigilance, and other expedients, all of the aforementioned work has been performed without any serious casualties or unscheduled interruptions in the continuous operation of such essential services as steam supply for space heating, electricity for light and power, and refrigeration for air conditioning. The only part of the work remaining to be performed is the conversion of the electrical lighting and power systems in the U.S. Capitol Building and Grounds. As previously stated, this part of the work is now in progress and should be completed in 2 years or less. Furthermore, it is expected that the current appropriation of $17,176,000 will be sufficient to complete this project. EXPANSION OF FACILITIES-CAPITOL POWER PLANT PUBLIC LAW 85-895, 85тн CONGRESS STATUS OF PROJECT, MAY 3, 1961 By the enactment of Public Law 413, 81st Congress in 1949, funds were appropriated for the enlargement of the steam generating capacity at the Capitol Power Plant, and also for increasing the capacity of the underground steam distribution system originating at the Capitol Power Plant. These improvements were premised on engineering forecasts made in 1948 of the current and future steam requirements of the Capitol Building including the proposed east front extension, the existing Senate Office Building and the then proposed new Senate Office Building, the two House Office Buildings, the two Library Buildings, the Supreme Court Building, the legislative garage, the Botanic Garden, the city post office, and the Government Printing Office. Among other changes and improvements, the same law provided funds for enlargement of the refrigeration capacity at the Capitol Power Plant, and also for increasing the capacity of the underground chilled water distribution system supplied by the enlarged refrigeration equipment at the Capitol Power Plant. Again these improvements were premised on engineering forecasts made in 1948 of the current and future chilled water requirements of the Capitol Building including the proposed east front extension, for the existing Senate Office Building and the then proposed new Senate Office Building, the two House Office Buildings, the Library Annex Building, the Supreme Court Building, and also for the possibility of eventually cooling and conditioning the main Library Building. All of the aforementioned improvements were made and completed under the authority of Public Law 413 between 1952 and 1957. A more detailed description of these improvements is included in a separate report dated May 3, 1961, сарtioned "Capitol Power Plant Changes and Improvements." In 1956 when tentative plans for the third House Office Building were developed, and the steam and chilled water requirements could reasonably be estimated, it became evident that the already enlarged steam generating and refrigeration capabilities at the Capitol Power Plant would not be adequate to supply this new building, and other previously unexpected new construction projects such as the cafeteria in the present New House Office Building courtyard, the garage in the Old House Office Building courtyard, the new Senate subway tunnel, the proposed House subway tunnel and the possible future west front extension of the Capitol Building. In view of the impact of all this proposed new construction on the facilities of the Capitol Power Plant as enlarged under the provisions of Public Law 413, the Congress on July 1, 1957, authorized and directed the Architect of the Capitol to make a new survey and study of the present and future needs of the Capitol Power Plant. Furthermore, he was directed to report to the Congress his recomendations for additional changes, improvements, and additions at the Capitol Power Plant and in its distribution systems for adequately servicing the additional House Office Building and other new projects already under construction. This report resulted in the enactment by the 85th Congress of Public Law 85-895, approved September 2, 1958, and the work authorized therein is now generally referred to as the "Expansion of facilities, Capitol Power Plant." 69462-61-12 Briefly, Public Law 85-895 authorized and directed the Architect of the Capitol to (1) Install four additional steam generators to increase the present installed capacity of 330,000 pounds per hour to approximately 550,000 pounds of steam per hour for space heating, water heating, and other essential purposes. (2) Install additional refrigeration compressors to increase the present installed capacity from 8,800 tons to approximately 14,800 tons of refrigeration for air cooling and conditioning. (3) Make changes and additions to the existing steam distribution and chilled water distribution systems compatible with the projected new demands on these systems. As of this date the following work has been accomplished in connection with the expansion of facilities project (1) Eight obsolete steam boilers, their foundations, and other appurtenances have been removed from the north end of the old boiler house. (2) Four obsolete steam-turbine-driven electric generators which, prior to 1950, supplied all of the electric power for the buildings under the jurisdiction of the Architect of the Capitol have been removed from the operating floor of the old turbine room. (3) Four large surface-type steam condensers, pumps, and piping formerly used in conjunction with the old turbine generators previously mentioned have been removed from the basement level of the old turbine room. (4) Two groups of 6,600-volt switchgear assemblies which have been inoperative since 1956 have been removed from the mezzanine floor of the refrigeration apparatus room. (5) Two 1,100-ton refrigeration compressors have been installed in available space in the existing refrigeration apparatus room. These machines are now ready for operation. (6) Two 2,200-ton refrigeration compressors have been delivered to the site for installation at a later date when related work hereinafter memtioned has been completed under another contract. (7) Plans and specifications for the installation of four new steam generators, fuel storage and handling equipment, additional water treatment apparatus, expanded rail siding facilities, additional cooling tower, additional transformer and switchgear installations, pumping equipment, piping and other miscellaneous facilities and improvements required to complete the overall project are about 95 percent complete. The work included in the expansion of facilities project is being closely coordinated with the progress of the additional House Office Building construction. A final construction contract for the balance of the work to be performed at the Capitol Power Plant and in the distribution systems served by the Capitol Power Plant will be advertised for bids on or about August 1, 1961. All parts of this new work essential to the occupancy of the additional House Office Building will be completed late in the fall of 1963. The authorized cost of the project is $6,500,000, of which $5,750,000 has been appropriated to date. |