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On my personal map of abandonments I've got tons of decommissioned power plants that I just found. They have no signs of explorers and sometimes security patrolling. One I found in Pgh has a little bit of graffiti on a building outside the fence but nothing on the main plant. There's another in practically downtown Detroit and it looks as if it's about it start back up any minute. Is it worth driving 8 hours to a place that's either an immaculate spot or more likely swarming with security? Do y'all have any good luck with decommissioned plants or know a way to see if they're accessible before I drive out there? Anything helps.
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Basically either talk to locals or drive out unfortunately. Google maps will usually give you a good basic idea on how to approach but obviously won’t show where security is live. If you can usually climb something, you’re almost always guaranteed to find a way in somewhere, whether it be an open door or broken window. Just watch out for security on foot or on small atvs/golf carts.
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Look in the news if it was decomissionned, then google maps. Wach for cars in their parking lot, if there is none it's a good sign.
If you know there is security, that means you always have a step ahead them.
You know they are there, they don't.
Go scout by night before, find/do your entry. Either you do it by night or comeback the morning after all planned up knowing where to enter.
I live in canada and come a lot to the US so it's always a little bit of a gamble, but 99% of the time, you can get in, depend on how intense you are and how bad you want it.
Have basic tools. (unscrew boardings or wathever is imo OK if you put it back after)
Don't scout with tools, leave them in a bush or something until you are sure it's 'clear'.
It's not because you didn't see pictures online that no explorers have been there. Big places like powerstations, people want to keep them off the radar.
I had mostly good luck, and some bad, it's part of the game.
Don't stress too much and do 1000 negative scenario in your head. Stay focus.
Il y a toujours un moyen. | |
All the above and...
Sometimes there will be a still active substation next to the power plant.
Avoid these. Some have cams.
Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in.
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They're usually under high security and have cameras
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Posted by jc0507
They're usually under high security and have cameras
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But people don’t always monitor so as long as you don’t give them a reason to look back, they probably won’t know you’re even there. Unless it’s a construction site due to them demolishing it, then they might be actively monitored if there is security (I’ve been chased out at one before).
I have a bunch of plants from around the area I haven’t posted to try and not let it get destroyed so people may have been there, or maybe not.
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Posted by jc0507
They're usually under high security and have cameras
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Many times not. They are no longer part of the infrastructure, however the substations are.
If the city has a smart cam network... stay off the roof.
Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in.
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Posted by ClementRSedona
It's not because you didn't see pictures online that no explorers have been there. Big places like powerstations, people want to keep them off the radar.
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Yep. They can be done, sometimes even without scouting and only a few rumors of what's in store. You may have to go at night, and it may take hours to sneak past security (electronic, guards, or both), but rarely is a powerplant so heavily secured that access is impossible if you're patient and determined enough.
That being said, most explorers will not post what they find or even acknowledge the location's existence. Decommissioned powerplants are the kind of critical infrastructure that probably tends to make local cops... tense about trespassing- especially since they often operate under a different set of trespassing laws. Not to mention the likelihood of a scrapper wrecking the place if they find it.
Power plants are a high risk, high reward explore where the risk only grows exponentially if it ever ends up online.
"Sorry, I didn't know I'm not supposed to be here," he said, knowing full well he wasn't supposed to be there.
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Thanks for all of the help. I've got a trip planned soon so I think I'll scout a few locations. In the past I've just studies Google Maps for hours finding every possible entrance/exit. I tried doing that for a plant in philly and it failed miserably. It did work out to be a good scouting trip tho so that has hopefully taught me a lesson. If I end up checking anything out then I'll let y'all know how it goes.
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Posted by ryanpics
Thanks for all of the help. I've got a trip planned soon so I think I'll scout a few locations. In the past I've just studies Google Maps for hours finding every possible entrance/exit. I tried doing that for a plant in philly and it failed miserably. It did work out to be a good scouting trip tho so that has hopefully taught me a lesson. If I end up checking anything out then I'll let y'all know how it goes.
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The Philly plants are usually better sealed than most other plants. Either they are wide open or completely covered in sheet metal. Occasionally they will go inside the plants and seal off rooms so even if you get inside you're not getting to anything good.
With the amount of stupid instagram kids going into plants these days I'm sure eventually they're going to start to get harder. Either they are going to get sick of dealing with it or someone is going to get hurt or killed.
https://www.flickr...62837453@N07/sets/
http://www.tfpnj.blogspot.com | |
I tried the power plant near Pittsburgh. They had every inch covered with cameras. There were even maintenance people working on the apparently active and apparently existent substation. They were chill enough to let me look around the outside before kicking me out. There are some plans for possible redevelopment so I may contact the power company and request access to "document" the building before it goes away.
You can see some pics I got of the coal conveyors on the outside of the property here: http://www.uer.ca/...urrpage=1&pp#post0 They're at the bottom.
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Posted by EsseXploreR
The Philly plants are usually better sealed than most other plants. Either they are wide open or completely covered in sheet metal. Occasionally they will go inside the plants and seal off rooms so even if you get inside you're not getting to anything good.
With the amount of stupid instagram kids going into plants these days I'm sure eventually they're going to start to get harder. Either they are going to get sick of dealing with it or someone is going to get hurt or killed.
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I think i know one you are talkng about lol *cough cough control room*
Il y a toujours un moyen. | |
Posted by Rinzler
But people don’t always monitor so as long as you don’t give them a reason to look back, they probably won’t know you’re even there.
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This is what I use to convince my less experienced/new to urbex friends to get them to infiltrate schools. I've also gotten lucky with a tall business building that didn't have active security, that time what I told them was a big fat lie that turned out to be true.
So yeah its true most of the time that cameras are more of a deterrent that they wont check unless they have a reason. But it is still a gamble.
If there is something I want to do then Ill do it and if there is something I don't want to do than I wont do it. That's the Dandy way baby. | |
It's also worth noting that many (US) states have stricter laws regarding trespassing on infrastructure and/or superfund sites. Texas is one of those states that will enhance the offense to a Class A Misdemeanor if you are charged with trespassing on one of the aforementioned sites.
It's been my experience that these locations are usually awesome and usually risker and more difficult - someone else mentioned the risk:reward ratio and I would agree with that. Just be extra careful and make the determination after learning as much as you can about the location - including what has happened to anyone else that may have been caught there in the past.
But, yeah, power plants are awesome! 
I wandered till the stars went dim. | |
Posted by Dee Ashley
It's also worth noting that many (US) states have stricter laws regarding trespassing on infrastructure and/or superfund sites. Texas is one of those states that will enhance the offense to a Class A Misdemeanor if you are charged with trespassing on one of the aforementioned sites.
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Yeah. To quote Wisconsin Legislature 943.14, which is the law handling trespassing on energy provider property:
Wisconsin Legislature 943.14
Section 1b: “Energy provider property" means property that is part of an electric generation, distribution, or transmission system or part of a natural gas distribution system and that is owned, leased, or operated by an energy provider. |
and
Wisconsin Legislature 943.14
Section 2:Whoever intentionally enters an energy provider property without lawful authority and without the consent of the energy provider that owns, leases, or operates the property is guilty of a Class H felony. |
Reading the rest of section 1 indicates that so long as the power company owns, leasing, or uses the property for generation or transmission, trespassing on that property is a felony. If the plant itself is decommissioned but the power transformer on site is still in use, it's a felony. If the entire property is long since abandoned and owned by someone else, the law is a little less clear.
This goes even further with nuclear power plants. Unlike coal or natural gas plants, Wisconsin law is clear and unconditional: if it's a nuclear power plant, trespassing is always a felony. Doesn't matter who the owner is, doesn't matter if it's decommissioned, doesn't matter if every inch of the property has been shut down for decades: it's still a felony.
Unlike normal abandonments power plants are a case where you go directly to jail, do not pass go, do not collect $200, they won't go away after seven years, and you'll have to explain them to potential employers for the rest of your life. So make sure to do your legal research before attempting one.
That's why you won't often see people post stuff online about power plants they may have explored. Exploring places such as abandoned houses and factories is the kind of thing police might be willing to look past, but posting photos of decommissioned power plant explorations is the kind of thing that might make them sit up and take notice.
[last edit 2/3/2019 4:29 PM by Aran - edited 2 times]
"Sorry, I didn't know I'm not supposed to be here," he said, knowing full well he wasn't supposed to be there.
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I'm in the process of getting into a power plant myself. I'm running the really long con.
1. Go to college
2. Become a mechanical engineer
3. Get a job at a half abandoned hydro electric plant
4. ???
5. Profit
It may take a while, but it's probably worth it.
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Posted by EnvoyToTheMolePeople
I'm in the process of getting into a power plant myself. I'm running the really long con.
1. Go to college
2. Become a mechanical engineer
3. Get a job at a half abandoned hydro electric plant
4. ???
5. Profit
It may take a while, but it's probably worth it.
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I guess that's one way to do it. Maybe a different kind of accomplishment and satisfaction but whatever works for you lol.
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Posted by Aran
Yeah. To quote Wisconsin Legislature 943.14, which is the law handling trespassing on energy provider property:
and
Reading the rest of section 1 indicates that so long as the power company owns, leasing, or uses the property for generation or transmission, trespassing on that property is a felony. If the plant itself is decommissioned but the power transformer on site is still in use, it's a felony. If the entire property is long since abandoned and owned by someone else, the law is a little less clear.
This goes even further with nuclear power plants. Unlike coal or natural gas plants, Wisconsin law is clear and unconditional: if it's a nuclear power plant, trespassing is always a felony. Doesn't matter who the owner is, doesn't matter if it's decommissioned, doesn't matter if every inch of the property has been shut down for decades: it's still a felony.
Unlike normal abandonments power plants are a case where you go directly to jail, do not pass go, do not collect $200, they won't go away after seven years, and you'll have to explain them to potential employers for the rest of your life. So make sure to do your legal research before attempting one.
That's why you won't often see people post stuff online about power plants they may have explored. Exploring places such as abandoned houses and factories is the kind of thing police might be willing to look past, but posting photos of decommissioned power plant explorations is the kind of thing that might make them sit up and take notice.
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A felony? Ouch.
There is no such thing as felony trespassing in Texas criminal law, but there are obviously ways around that fact if they really want to get you (or you did something really stupid in addition to trespassing).
I wandered till the stars went dim. | |
In New Jersey it’s an indictable crime which compares to felonies in other states.
2C:18-3
Unlicensed entry of structures; defiant trespasser; peering into dwelling places; defenses.
The offense is a crime of the fourth degree if it is committed in a dwelling. An offense under this section is a crime of the fourth degree if it is committed in a research facility, power generation facility, waste treatment facility
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Posted by Rinzler
In New Jersey it’s an indictable crime which compares to felonies in other states.
2C:18-3
Unlicensed entry of structures; defiant trespasser; peering into dwelling places; defenses.
The offense is a crime of the fourth degree if it is committed in a dwelling. An offense under this section is a crime of the fourth degree if it is committed in a research facility, power generation facility, waste treatment facility
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They can bone you hard in NJ if want too and nail you with state trespassing and/or loitering.
If they're in a nice mood they might make it municipal trespass; roughly the same as a misdemeanor.
Also agricultural trespassing, which is about the same as a felony as well.
911 fucked exploring up bad...
Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in.
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