Small Town Wants to Save its Hydropower

June 2, 2009 – Vol.14 No.11

SMALL TOWN WANTS TO SAVE ITS HYDROPOWER.
by Bruce Mulliken, Green Energy News

The town of Dillsboro, in western North Carolina, has an unusual problem. Where many communities would like to see old hydroelectric plants in their towns disappear, Dillsboro would like to keep its small power plant. Duke Energy, the owner of the Dillsboro Dam on the Tuckasegee River, would like to remove the dam and powerhouse. But, in the eyes of supporters in the town as well as the Jackson County, North Carolina government, not only has the 310 foot dam been part of local history since 1913 when it was built, the facility could also be a continuing source of renewable power. Further, the Dillsboro dam also provides an additional scenic attraction to the already scenic river and is a backdrop to a bed-and-breakfast hotel next door.

(Generally speaking, there has been a backlash against hydro for years by environmentalists for the damage hydroelectric projects might do to local ecosystems and the permanent flooding of property, but small facilities like Dillsboro (the dam is only 12 feet tall) fall into a different league compared with large hydroelectric projects that can flood large areas behind them. Dillsboro is more mini-hydro than mega-hydro.)

Dillsboro’s capacity is 225 kilowatts and is the smallest of 31 hydro projects in Duke’s portfolio. Apparently though with upgrades, power output could be doubled. The reservoir behind Dillsboro covers 13.9 acres.

Duke Energy has the go-ahead from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to remove the dam. The state has given the thumbs up as well, including $400,000 in assistance to help Duke remove the facility and restore the river. Removing the dam would create a 10-mile stretch of unimpeded river. Fish could move freely up and down the river as could canoe and kayak paddlers.

Jackson County has been using legal roadblocks to keep demolition equipment at bay, but legal options seem to be running out for supporters of the Dillsboro dam.

For its part, Duke Energy doesn’t seem to be the bad guy in the room. The decision to remove Dillsboro dam is just business. They say removal of the dam will help its other hydro projects in the Little Tennessee Basin of North Carolina. Dillsboro contributes little to Duke’s grid. Though it’s a profitable operation, Duke probably also considers it obsolete asset that needs to be retired. Retired would mean removal.

Generally Duke has been developing a good environmental record with a long string of positive news from its green energy and environmental efforts. Just recently:

--- Duke Energy and home supply chain Lowe’s has announced a partnership to provide compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs at 40 percent discount to their North Carolina customers.

--- Duke Energy is the lead investor in “GreenTrees,” a program that aims to reforest 1 million acres in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley. The program is expected to generate high-quality, verifiable carbon offsets that Duke Energy believes will help reduce the overall cost of compliance with federal climate change legislation.

--- Duke Energy subsidiary Duke Energy Generation Services (DEGS) and energy company AREVA are joint partners in ADAGE, a company the plans to build 50 biomass-fueled power plants throughout the U.S. The first U.S. biopower plant will be in Hamilton County, Florida., about 80 miles west of Jacksonville. That facility will create approximately 400 jobs during construction and 125 facility and fuel-related jobs during operation, adding significantly to local economic activity.

--- Duke Energy has just acquired its first wind farm in the eastern U.S, the 70 MW North Allegheny Windpower Project, from wind turbine manufacturer and project developer Gamesa Energy USA.

--- Duke is now offering its $50 million North Carolina Solar Distributed Generation Program – the first of its kind in the nation – that will include the installation of between 100 and 400 micro solar systems to provide enough power for 1300 homes. Property owners that host solar systems will receive rent checks from Duke for the use of their rooftop or ground-mount space.

Perhaps Duke could extend its green power credentials to Dillsboro. Perhaps there are more options for the site. Perhaps Duke could remove the dam but save the powerhouse to be restored for other uses. Perhaps Duke can come up with another green power plan for the town of Dillsboro such as a solar distributed generation program. Perhaps there are other micro hydro options for the site, like a run-of-the-river project, that will keep hydro power at the site, just not the 12 foot tall dam. Perhaps, as already suggested by Dillsboro dam supporters, others could run the operation when upgrades are made.

Links:

Duke Energy
http://www.duke-energy.com