In 2001, the East Kentucky Power Cooperative (EKPC) embarked on an initiative to add more than 800-MW of new baseload capacity to meet the demand growth of eastern Kentucky. The key objective was to build plants that could burn a wide range of fuels cleanly, efficiently and economically. The new 286-MW E.A. Gilbert Generating Unit at the H.L. Spurlock Power Station is the first plant completed as part of this initiative. Recognized in 2005 as one of the top plants in the United States by Power magazine, E.A. Gilbert isn't just the cleanest coal-burning plant in Kentucky - it is one of the cleanest in the U.S.

Having performed maintenance for EKPC on other units, Pullman Power was hired to design, install and construct a 650-foot tall tapered reinforced concrete chimney with one 15 foot ID insulated carbon steel liner at E.A. Gilbert. Pullman Power mobilized Sept. 2, 2002. Because of severe weather during the winter months, the job site was shut down and not remobilized until mid-March 2003. Even with this delay, solid pre-planning efforts enabled Pullman Power to complete the project on time for the Oct. 31, 2003 deadline. In order to reduce the time and cost associated with extensive field welding, the liner cans were fabricated and shipped in complete 10-foot sections.

The new plant was constructed with no lost-time accidents - a feat for a construction project that took more than 2 million man-hours. More than 206 tons of reinforcing steel and 2,380 cubic yards of concrete were used to construct the chimney, and more than 266 tons of rolled carbon steel and 31 tons of structural steel were used for the liner system.