The Spalding Energy Project

Day 14: Lincoln to Cambridge

by Lauren Kologe

Bright and Early this Sunday morning we departed Lincoln for the University town of Cambridge. Our original course being through Nottingham, we decided to take the more direct route to have more time in Cambridge. I was the lone loyal opposition in voting for Nottingham, as I have a penchant for tales of Robin Hood, but was equally intrigued by the famed Cambridge University.

En route, a sign for "Energy Project" in the town of Spalding caught the attention of Dr. Mathews' van, and we drove a few miles out of the way looking for a happy accident. Indeed, we found the building site of a combined heat and power plant, a joint venture of Intergen, Shell-Bechtel, and the town of Spalding. This side of Shell develops alternative energies such as the biofuels we heard about in Cheshire. The security guards were indeed very welcoming, giving us some architectural photos of the work in progress.

Due to open the end of 2004, the Spalding Energy Project will use two gas turbines, two supplementary fixed heat recovery steam generators, and one steam turbine. Intergen's website claims the Spalding project is the first fully contracted power station to be project financed under the New Electricity Trading Agreement in England and Wales. Power stations built under this agreement may produce power used by customers in both England and Wales, but Spalding's location in the east of England means it will serve only local customers. It is hard to believe that this site, set to produce 890 MW of electricity, used to be home to a Sugar Beet factory.

Connecting to the power grid works much the same as the coal plant we visited in Ironbridge. Voltage is increased and current and velocity are decreased to meet the specifications of the grid.

As we drive off again toward Cambridge, Dr. Mathews comments on the issue of energy security. Even in some of our background research on nuclear plants, for example, many specific details were unavailable on websites and journals, due to tightened security measures. The first thing on many people's minds during the Blackout in much of the Northeast US in mid-August was terrorism. Though it turned out not to be the case, it is still a danger that exists and could cause economic panic.

Finding our way back to the main roads, we pass an abandoned Northgate Mill, a windmill without its sails. It was sad, really, like a windmill on a miniature golf course that fails to move, these symbols of the power of nature are enchanting in motion, but depressing when left to rot. A pesticide sprayer moves over a nearby field, completing the picture of the new but not improved.

We arrive in Cambridge around 1 pm and are left on our own to explore... until 6 pm when the students plan to take the professors out for a curry dinner.

Morgan and I take a walk through town as we make our way toward the buildings of the University. Many people travel by bicycle, and cars seem to actually share the road instead of cursing out any pedestrians or cyclists who have the audacity to go right on by while lines of automobiles are stuck in traffic.
 

My plan is to attend an evensong at King's College, a division of Cambridge University much like one of the Colleges of Penn State, such as EMS. It turns out to be an afternoon service that's not quite a Mass, featuring the King's College Choir.

The buildings are stately, and certainly have a lot of history. Stained glass windows throw the light of dusty sunbeams over marble and rich wood. Like some churches at home, I'm just not used to the absolute quiet. Maybe the organ's just a little too measured, because I think of E.E. Cumming's "Cambridge ladies who live in furnished souls". It was definitely an interesting experience though.

Next stop is the "backs", the open grassy areas near the river Cam. They're just a tad more classy than the quads at Penn State. The entire city has many parks and grassy areas, some of many acres, and I wonder who uses them and if they are enjoyed as they should be. It reminds me of the opportunities that exist that we often times just don't see.

Enough digression, it's back onto the main streets and through an outdoor market. Fresh flowers abound, along with handmade jewelry, touristy souvenirs, and pastries from local businesses. I walk around the town a bit more, stopping by the tourist bureau (which is oddly closed), and a card shop (which surprisingly doesn't have cards from "the cat to the dog"). The best thing about Cambridge in my opinion is that it has a far more diverse population than what we've seen so far. Hearing people speak French or Farsi as they tour British cathedrals is what makes the history we are seeing more vibrant. By itself, a building is cold, but warmed by children's laughter or foreigner's exclamations, stands as a sentinel of the centuries it has survived. A light rain scatters people indoors, and the causers convene for dinner.

We take the professors out to try some new Indian curry dishes, which are all very good: spicy and sweet. Unbeknownst to the professors, we've collaborated on some awards for everyone on the trip. We hand out the awards, mixing laughter with titles such as "best troublemaker" (awarded to a happy meal toy) into what will be our last night with the whole group. Tomorrow we leave for London, and we should have half a day there before it is time to go our separate ways. Matt makes aluminum foil hats for the "Three Wise Men", and we make our way back to the hostel for an early start to London tomorrow morning.

Lauren Kologe is a Senior Geography.

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Last updated: Wednesday December 03, 2003