The Duke Purdue Combined Heat and Power project is a 16-megawatt natural gas-fired power plant located in West Lafayette, Indiana. Occupying less than 1 acre of property, the facility was previously a coal storage yard. It supplies additional power to the local grid and steam to the Purdue University campus. Capable of producing up to 150,000 lbs of steam per hour, the plant is projected to cut carbon emissions by approximately 50,000 metric tons.

The project was spearheaded by FA Wilhelm, the EPC contract holder, and was completed within 18 months by Indiana-based union contractors. Electrical installation and commissioning support were provided by Huston Electric. The scope of electrical installation covered underground conduits, duct banks, primary conduit boring, manhole installation, transformer/generator/switchgear/VFD/control panel installation, cable tray, 15kv feeders and terminations, 480/208/120 branch power, heat tracing, instrumentation and controls, and telecommunications installation. Huston Electric emphasizes the project as a testament to the benefits of employing a union electrical contractor. They managed to deliver a comprehensive electrical/control/communications scope of work, finishing the tasks on time and under budget.

Additionally, given the rapid growth of the West Lafayette area and Purdue University, there is a significant need for more utility resources, including power and steam. This project addresses that need by providing these resources in a diverse and environmentally conscious manner.