Locks and Dam 1, Mississippi River, St. Paul/Minneapolis, Minnesota. Feasibility report for hydropower. Final report

Technical Report · Sat Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:5872331

This report presents a detailed evaluation of additional hydropower potential at locks and dam 1. The original Federal navigation locks and dam project included a foundation for a hydropower plant to be developed by non-Federal interests. The existing hydropower plant and equipment are owned and operated by the Ford Motor Co. The existing four turbines generate a combined nameplate capacity of 14.4 MW (megawatts). This study was conducted under the assumption that the Federal government would develop additional hydropower at locks and dam 1. It concludes that an additional hydroelectric capacity of 7.2 MW would be the optimum amount that could be added to this site. That capacity would produce additional average annual energy of 21,450 MWh (megawatt-hours). The added energy recommended would equate to burning 36,500 barrels of oil or 10,000 tons of coal per year. Total investment first cost of the recommended hydropower development would be $11,696,000 or $1,076,000 on an average annual basis, including annual operation and maintenance costs. Average annual benefits based on the avoided costs of a fossil fuel plant are $1,325,000. Net annual benefits are $249,000. The benefit-cost ratio is 1.23 based on an 8-3/4% discount rate, 100-year project life, and October 1984 price levels. Many of the environmental impacts normally associated with hydropower development would not occur because no new impoundment or changed plan of regulating river flows would be required.

• Research Organization: Corps of Engineers, St. Paul, MN (USA). St. Paul District
• OSTI ID: 5872331
• Report Number(s): AD-A-149943/3/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
DAMS
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
FEDERAL REGION V
HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS
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URBAN AREAS
USA