Binghamton Power Plant Being Turned Into Manufacturing Facility

Work is underway to bring new life to an abandoned Binghamton electricity and steam generating facility.

A company known as Firomar is preparing to convert the old cogeneration plant at 22 Charles Street in the city's First Ward into a manufacturing operation.

Workers have started to remove some of the remaining equipment from the idle building just north of Clinton Street.

Project manager Paolo Maccabruni told WNBF News Firomar plans to turn the old plant into a new production facility. He said the company hopes to start equipping the factory within the next three months.

Maccabruni said if all goes well, the plant could start production by the end of the year. He said it initially could employ about 15 people and eventually as many as 30 to 50 "depending on work flow."

The cogeneration facility was built to provide power to the Anitec Image Corporation manufacturing complex. The plant features a prominent 199-foot stack that often belched steam that could be seen for miles on cold winter days.

A California-based firm lost millions of dollars when it operating the facility only during periods of peak energy demand. That company turned the site over to the city and it was transferred to the Binghamton Local Development Corporation late last year.

In an email, Mayor Jared Kraham said the LDC has "entered into an option agreement with Firomar." He said the Connecticut-based company produces exterior-mounted insulation panels.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.