The Goudey Power Station in Johnson City, New York, was constructed in 1917 by the New York State Electric and Gas Corporation (NYSEG) as the Westover Power Station. Following an expansion to the facility in 1950, the plant was renamed for former NYSEG Vice President William B. Goudey. During its operation, the Goudey Power Station consisted of three coal-fired boilers, which provided steam to two turbine generators with a generating capacity of 119 megawatts. In 1999, AES Corporation purchased Goudey Station along with five other NYSEG generating facilities, and the plant was renamed AES Westover. The Goudey Power Station closed in 2011, due to high operating costs and competition from cheaper sources of electricity, such as natural gas and hydroelectric plants.

Up until the late 1970s, asbestos was incorporated into dozens of insulation materials that were applied to equipment associated with the steam system at Goudey Station. Workers removed and applied asbestos-containing block insulation, pipe covering, insulating cement, packing material and gaskets. Inhaling dust and particles from the application and removal of asbestos-containing materials placed workers at risk for developing mesothelioma or lung cancer.

Goudey Station consisted of three coal-fired boilers, which produced steam in order to turn its two turbine generators to produce electricity. A network of asbestos-covered pipes delivered steam to the turbines. Pumps, steam traps and valves also contained asbestos gaskets, cement and packing materials. Workers removed asbestos-containing insulation during maintenance procedures on the steam system, and they applied new insulation after maintenance and repairs were completed. Most workers were completely unaware of the dangers of exposure to the asbestos dust and performed their work without masks or protective gear.

Goudey Station occasionally went into a “shutdown” maintenance period. During a shutdown, workers performed maintenance on boilers, turbines, valves, pumps and pipes. Insulation contractors or laborers sawed and scraped worn asbestos insulation from steam pipes and equipment. Asbestos-containing gaskets were also scraped from flanges, and new gaskets were fabricated from sheets of asbestos-containing gasket material. These processes emitted large amounts of asbestos dust. Asbestos dust was also released into work areas of employees who did not participate in shutdowns or have direct contact with asbestos-containing materials.

Our clients understand the importance of securing legal representation as soon as possible after a diagnosis of mesothelioma or lung cancer. If you or a loved one were once employed at Goudey Power Station or at another NYSEG facility and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer, we urge you to contact us regarding your legal rights.