Ensuring Compliance and Reliability for Northeast Wisconsin's Energy Infrastructure
When Wisconsin Public Service needed critical tank inspections at their Fox Energy Center in Wrightstown, they required more than routine compliance work—they needed a certified contractor who understood the operational demands of a 620-megawatt combined-cycle generating facility that serves the energy needs of Northeast Wisconsin. Fiberglass Solutions answered the call with specialized expertise that would ensure regulatory compliance while maximizing operational efficiency.
The Fox Energy Center represents critical infrastructure for the region's electrical grid -- any unplanned downtime carries significant consequences for both WPS and their customers. The facility's water treatment chemical storage tanks require mandatory inspections every five years under Wisconsin regulation ATCP 93.535, but scheduling these inspections requires careful coordination with plant operations and planned maintenance windows.
"Working with a utility operation like Fox Energy Center means understanding that their schedule drives everything," said Ben Bertram, president of Fiberglass Solutions. "These tanks support water treatment systems that are essential for plant operations, so we had to be completely flexible with timing and ready to mobilize when the facility had planned downtime."
Certified Expertise for Critical Infrastructure
The inspection scope encompassed seven tanks ranging from 500 gallons to 40,000 gallons, each requiring confined space entry and comprehensive visual inspection of interior surfaces—floors, walls, ceilings, and all fittings and flanges. The regulatory requirements also mandated exterior inspection of each tank and adjacent piping and equipment within a six-foot radius to identify potential leaks or support structure issues.
Fiberglass Solutions' certification to perform these inspections represents specialized expertise that many contractors don't possess. The confined space entry requirements, regulatory compliance knowledge, and ability to identify potential issues across diverse tank configurations require training and experience that goes far beyond standard maintenance work.
"These aren't simple visual checks," Bertram said. "We're conducting comprehensive assessments that will determine the operational reliability of these systems for the next five years. The inspection has to identify not just immediate problems, but potential issues that could develop into failures if left unaddressed."
Integrated Inspection and Maintenance Solutions
During the inspection process, the team identified maintenance areas that, while not immediately critical, would benefit from proactive attention to prevent future issues. Rather than simply documenting problems for future resolution, Fiberglass Solutions mobilized repair crews to address these issues while the tanks were offline, maximizing the value of the planned downtime.
"The beauty of this approach is that we can handle both compliance and maintenance in a single mobilization," said Bertram. "Instead of WPS having to schedule separate downtime for repairs later, we addressed the maintenance needs during the same window as the inspections."
The chemical storage applications present unique challenges, particularly with sodium hypochlorite systems that gradually degrade plastic materials over extended exposure. Fiberglass Solutions' expertise in chemical compatibility and long-term material performance enables them to provide recommendations that optimize both immediate compliance and long-term operational reliability.
Long-Term Partnership for Infrastructure Reliability
The inspection process delivered immediate regulatory compliance through comprehensive reporting that satisfies Wisconsin's code requirements, but the relationship extends beyond simple compliance work. Fiberglass Solutions provides ongoing consultation on tank maintenance strategies, including recommendations for preventive treatments and optimization of chemical storage system performance.
"Sodium hypochlorite and other water treatment chemicals present ongoing challenges for any storage system," said Bertram. "Our understanding of material compatibility and degradation patterns allows us to help facilities like Fox Energy Center plan for long-term system reliability rather than just addressing immediate issues."
The team's recommendations include planned relining schedules for fiberglass tanks every eight to 12 years, recognizing that while fiberglass systems require higher upfront investment compared to plastic alternatives, their extended service life and chemical resistance provide superior long-term value for critical infrastructure applications.
Engineering Reliability for Essential Services
The Fox Energy Center project demonstrates Fiberglass Solutions' capability to serve as a trusted partner for critical infrastructure operations where reliability isn't optional. Their certified inspection expertise, combined with integrated maintenance capabilities and long-term planning approach, provides utilities with comprehensive solutions that ensure both regulatory compliance and operational reliability.
"In utility operations, unplanned failures aren't just inconvenient—they can impact thousands of customers," said Bertram. "Our approach ensures that WPS can maintain compliance while maximizing the reliability of their water treatment systems. It's about engineering solutions that keep the lights on for Northeast Wisconsin."
The ongoing five-year inspection cycle has established Fiberglass Solutions as WPS's trusted partner for tank system reliability, proving their capability to serve the specialized needs of critical infrastructure operations where compliance and reliability are equally essential.