subject: Wayne Boich [print this page] In 2008, The Boich Group of Companies and FirstEnergey Utility in Ohio started a 50/50 partnership to acquire the Signal Peak Coal Mine in Montana, previously owned by the Bull Mountain Coal Company.
Boich and FirstEnergy are certainly enthusiastic about the Signal Peak Energy Project and the output of the best quality coal that they will sell throughout the USA and other Pacific Rim Countries. No cost has been spared in rebuilding and restructuring to get this mine back into operation.
After having a busy year of construction, the Signal Peak Energy mine site is now a totally different place to what it had been. A whole new infrastructure has been introduced and the site converted into a modern industrial complex with its own railroad spur. The complex now incorporates a shop, warehouse, new offices, storage silos and also a big conveyor system. There is the addition of an impressive new wash plant that is able to clean 2,000 tons of coal every hour.
The brand new railspur servicing the Signal Peak Energy Mine is 36 miles long and connects with the BNSF main line just south of Broadview. This new crossing was named "Walter', in honor of the world's oldest man who had worked for the Great Northern Railway.
The Signal Peak Mine is a big project and the team onsite is made up of 190 employees. Approximated projections for the mine is an annual coal supply of 7 million tons. When running at full capacity, the mine can fill 7 trains every day with each train comprising 120-150 cars. Signal Peak Energy has secured a 20 year contract with FirstEnergy and with Montana coal providing more heat per ton than Powder River coal, it will signify FirstEnergy should ship less coal for the same energy production. This is likely to make coal very competitive with other alternative fuels.
The new Signal Peak Mine and Railroad Junction was opened by top executives from BNSF Railway, FirstEnergy, The Boich Group, Signal Peak Energy, Gov. Brian Schweitzer and a limited number of Montana politicians.
