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Category Archives: Project Spotlight

Success Story: Village Creek 3MM Gallon Wash-Water Tank

September 3, 2020Coatings, Induron, Project Spotlight, WaterBirmingham, coatings, induron, Induron Birmingham, Induron coatings, Induron Protective Coatings, Jeff Whiteinduron

By: Jeff White, Induron Executive Vice President & General Manager

Believe it or not, I just celebrated my 18th work anniversary at Induron Protective Coatings. As I reflect on my time with Induron, some firsts that come to mind… Continue reading Success Story: Village Creek 3MM Gallon Wash-Water Tank →

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Success Story: Watco Company Port of Birmingham Crane Renovations

July 19, 2020Induron, Project SpotlightBirmingham, coatings, induron, Induron Birmingham, Induron coatings, Induron Protective Coatings, nick jonesinduron

By: Nick Jones, Induron Sales Representative

Induron was proud to partner with Industrial Coatings Group and K and K Renovations to renovate Watco Co.’s crane and conveyor system. While the end result was a success, this project presented several challenges. Continue reading Success Story: Watco Company Port of Birmingham Crane Renovations →

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Lafayette Tank (City of Lancaster) Repainting Project

July 14, 2020Coatings, Induron, Project Spotlightcoatings, Induron coatings, Induron Protective Coatings, lafayette tank, PermaClean 100, Tex Enochinduron

By: Tex Enoch, Induron Sales Representative

I remember how excited I was to discuss painting this tank when it was being designed. Huth Engineers in Lancaster, PA was the design engineer for this project. It is a 7.5MM gallon water storage tank, approximately 100 feet in diameter and 100 feet high. Continue reading Lafayette Tank (City of Lancaster) Repainting Project →

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Success Story: Not One, But Two Idabel, OK Storage Tanks

May 11, 2020Coatings, Induron, Project Spotlight, Wastewater Industrycoatings, induron, Induron coatings, Induron Protective Coatings, Russell Hicks, wastewater industryinduron

By: Russell Hicks, Induron Sales Representative

Induron Protective Coatings recently had the privilege of working with both Wall Engineering and the city of Idabel, OK. For this project, the city needed to replace two existing potable water tanks with two new 500,000 gallon composite elevated tanks. Landmark Structures out of Fort Worth, Texas was awarded this project.

Continue reading Success Story: Not One, But Two Idabel, OK Storage Tanks →

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Success Story: Lancaster, PA Tank Repaint

March 10, 2020Coatings, Project Spotlight, Wastewater Industryceramic epoxy, coatings system, Induron coatings, Induron Protective Coatings, Perma-gloss, PermaClean 100, Tex Enochinduron

When an iconic 7.5 million-gallon standpipe in downtown Lancaster, PA began to show signs of corrosion, Induron Sales Representative Tex Enoch provided a coatings recommendation. Continue reading Success Story: Lancaster, PA Tank Repaint →

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Induron Protective Coatings Announces its 2019 Project of the Year

January 18, 2020Coatings, Project SpotlightInduron coatings, Induron Protective Coatings, Texarkana Water Utilitiesinduron

To kick off 2020, Induron is excited to announce that its 2019 Project of the Year is the Texarkana Water Utilities Clarifier Rehabilitation. For the facility to effectively treat the potable water used in the surrounding community, Texarkana Water Utilities needed to rehabilitate a concrete clarifier in their Millwood Potable Water Treatment Plant in Ashdown, Ark. Continue reading Induron Protective Coatings Announces its 2019 Project of the Year →

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Exceeding Expectations: A 10-year Case History of Aquanaut II High Performance Acrylic

December 3, 2019Coatings, Induron, Induron Values, Project Spotlightaquanaut, ceramic epoxy, induron, Induron coatings, Induron Protective Coatings, Paul Powersinduron

By: Paul Powers, Induron Sales Representative

In the summer of 2009, Bazan Painting Co. and Induron Protective Coatings teamed up to paint the 200-foot-tall Italgrani Flour Mill Elevator located on the Mississippi River in St. Louis Missouri. Continue reading Exceeding Expectations: A 10-year Case History of Aquanaut II High Performance Acrylic →

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Case Study: Texarkana Water Utilities Clarifier Rehabilitation

October 8, 2019Induron, Induron In the News, Project Spotlight, Wastewater Industry, Watercoatings, Corrosion, induron, Induron Protective Coatings, wastewater industryinduron

By: Russell Hicks, Induron Sales Representative

This case study was originally published in Water & Wastes Digest.

Texarkana Water Utilities needed to rehabilitate a concrete clarifier in the Millwood Potable Water Treatment Plant in Ashwood, AR for the facility to effectively treat the potable water used in the surrounding community. Continue reading Case Study: Texarkana Water Utilities Clarifier Rehabilitation →

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Product Spotlight: PermaGloss Fluorourethane

September 10, 2019Coatings, Induron, Project Spotlight, Wastewater Industrycoatings, Induron Birmingham, Induron coatings, Induron Protective Coatings, permagloss, wastewater industryinduron

Are color and gloss retention the priority for your project? Induron has the coatings solution for you. PermaGloss Fluorourethane provides the best color and gloss retention of any readily available industrial coating. Continue reading Product Spotlight: PermaGloss Fluorourethane →

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Project Spotlight: Hominy Ground Storage Tank Rehab

September 3, 2019Coatings, Induron, Project Spotlight, Wastewater Industrycoatings, induron, Induron coatings, Induron Protective Coatings, Russell Hicks, tank, water tank, water tank coatingsinduron

By: Russell Hicks, Induron Technical Sales Representative

When the city of Hominy, OK needed its 500,000-gallon ground storage tank rehabbed, they encountered a few challenges. First, maintenance had not been performed on the tank for more than 25 years. Plus, the interior of the tank was severely pitted with corrosion cells. And lastly, the owner requested that the tank have a white finish. Continue reading Project Spotlight: Hominy Ground Storage Tank Rehab →

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WHAT was PUC told to get this approved?

This is a NEW ADDITION providing SIGNIFICANT IMPACT on the tower to ENHANCE SERVICE LIFE.

While fixing foundations maintains what’s already there, applying Induraguard 9200 is like adding a fresh layer. It’s a new addition. The process needs to be done on a larger scale, so it’s important enough to be closely looked at by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC). With the huge U.S. electrical grid that can rust over time, the importance is clear. When this helps a structure stay useful for much longer and costs much less than getting a new one, it’s a real benefit for ratepayers.

WHY are you hearing this now?

The recent FERC ruling outlined the specific requirements for obtaining CapEx treatment when revitalizing towers.

FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) Update Enables Capitalization of T&D Coatings Initiatives
Formerly, utility companies could include replacement costs for transmission towers and poles in their capitalization, but corrosion control for these assets was excluded. A groundbreaking shift introduced by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission now allows utility providers to categorize corrosion control programs (coating programs) for transmission structures as a “significant addition,” thereby enabling them to capitalize these expenses for accounting purposes. This alteration is poised to significantly impact the condition of the nation’s aging electric utility infrastructure.

On February 22, 2022, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved a utility company’s proposal to classify their tower coating programs as “substantial additions.” The order (1) clarifies, “The Commission has previously permitted utilities to consider the addition of minor property items that were previously absent as substantial additions and to capitalize the related costs when such costs extend the useful life, operational capacity, or efficiency of the associated retirement units.” Utility companies are now authorized to capitalize on the costs linked with corrosion control. This change aligns with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and offers various financial advantages, including a more balanced assets-to-liabilities ratio and reduced income fluctuations.

In numerous instances, corrosion control solutions such as coatings have been repeatedly applied to structures, demonstrating anticipated performance and proven outcomes. Corrosion control coating programs, such as Induraguard 9200, possess the capacity to effectively prolong the service life of structures indefinitely.

HOW is this possible?

PG&E successfully presented a rate case supporting their proposal, citing examples of Southern Company and other utilities employing similar CapEx treatment. The PUC specified certain documentation requirements, but in the end, they granted the CapEx treatment as long as those requirements were met.

“Why should the ratepayer or the environment be asked to bear the cost of a new tower when coatings can be used to keep the one we already have operating indefinitely at a much lower cost?”

In PG&E’s success rate case proposal, FERC highlighted that comparable accommodations have been extended to prominent utilities such as Georgia Power and Southern California Edison. This ruling established a much-needed precedent and framework for other utilities to make the case that they have a responsible coatings program. Such programs can significantly enhance existing structures and potentially extend their operational lifespan by two decades or beyond.

The Tower Is Revitalized

Once the integrity of the galvanizing is compromised, the tower’s initial environmental protection is ineffective. However, the structural integrity remains intact. Implementing a new protective measure will ensure its preservation.

The application of Induraguard 9200 involves installing it on energized towers, typically at a rate of 1-2 towers per day for standard sizes.

Results In Monetary and Environmental Savings

Using Induraguard 9200 to restore a tower costs much less than replacing the whole tower – less than a tenth of the cost. It achieves the same goal while significantly reducing the need for procurement, engineering, and other human resources.

The environmental impact of mining, fabricating, shipping, and installing a new tower is drastically more detrimental compared to the environmental impact of prolonging the use of existing infrastructure.

Achieves An Indefinite Service Life

These structures, composed of steel and reinforced concrete, possess an indefinite design life if we manage environmental deterioration. This means there is no predetermined limit on the amount of value and serviceability after the initial installation at the ratepayer’s expense.

By implementing future applications of Induraguard 9200, the potential utilization timeframe for the structure becomes limitless. This becomes especially significant due to the existing strain on constructing new power infrastructure. It underscores the fact that we cannot simultaneously construct all the required new facilities and overhaul the current grid.

Revitalization Is Now A Capital Expense

The utilization of Induron’s Induraguard 9200 as a protective coating has gained recognition as a Capital Expense by both FERC and Public Utilities Commissions across the United States. This acknowledgment enables the potential cost of installing a replacement tower to come off of ratepayers while permitting the utilization of CapEx funds for this undertaking.

The Replacement Tower Is Now A Capital Expense

Once the existing tower has reached the end of its serviceable lifespan, the cycle starts over — thorough planning, procurement efforts, and assessment for a rate case to install a new replacement tower that is incredibly expensive and potentially disruptive to critical power transmission. This will be classified as a Capital Expense, thereby falling within the responsibility of the ratepayers again.

The Tower Corrodes And Needs Replacement

As the galvanizing layer diminishes, corrosion sets in, initiating the deterioration of the asset itself. This progression leads to visible corrosion and a reduction in structural integrity, ultimately necessitating the replacement of the entire structure.

Maintenance is classified as an O&M expense

Maintenance activities for the tower are categorized under Operations & Maintenance expenditures. Given that the asset was acquired using CapEx funds from ratepayers, the mentality of operation-to-failure takes hold. The objective then shifts to maximizing the asset’s operational lifespan before allocating further CapEx funds for its replacement.

The Tower Needs Maintenance

Over the tower’s lifespan, regular maintenance tasks are performed. Bolts are periodically replaced, foundations undergo repairs, and in some instances, structural elements are swapped out. However, it’s important to note that these routine maintenance activities do not mitigate the gradual degradation of the galvanizing layer, which ultimately leads to corrosion and, ultimately, the failure of the entire structure over time.

The Tower Is Built

The need for a new power transmission line is assessed, followed by meticulous planning, procurement of materials, and installation. The newly constructed tower is fortified with a protective layer of zinc, commonly referred to as galvanizing, which can have a lifespan of 20 to 50 years, contingent upon its quality, quantity, and service environment. This is financed through Capital Expenditure (Capex) funding, thereby distributing the financial responsibility to ratepayers through their imposed rates.

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