$30.6M in Stimulus Funds Give US Hydroelectric Projects a New Spark

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Up to $30.6 million in economic stimulus funds will be used to finance seven hydroelectric projects nationwide, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. The additional funding means Voith Hydro, a manufacturer of hydroelectric turbines, will be able to retain 40 jobs at its manufacturing facility in York, Pennsylvania

Up to $30.6 million in economic stimulus funds will be used to finance seven hydroelectric projects nationwide, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. 

The additional funding means Voith Hydro, a manufacturer of hydroelectric turbines, will be able to retain 40 jobs at its manufacturing facility in York, Pa. Thanks to $13 million in stimulus funding, those employees can resume work on two replacement turbines for Alcoa Inc’s Tapoco Cheoah hydro plant in Robbinsville, N.C. 

"We’re going to bring America back to making things in this country," Secretary of Energy Kristina Johnson told workers assembled for the announcement on Nov. 4, 2009. 

The other six projects selected for the federal funding are: 

  • Alabama Power Company – up to $6 million for a project in Mitchell, AL - For a project that will increase efficiency and upgrade four units at three hydroelectric plants on the Coosa River by replacing 1940s to 1960s vintage turbines with new high-efficiency stainless steel turbines and runners. Generation will increase by 36,087 MWh annually (7.3% increase).

                                                                                                                       

  • City of Tacoma, Department of Public Utilities - up to $4.67 million for a project in Potlatch, WA – To add two 1.8 MW Francis Turbines to the existing Cushman No. 2 Dam, adding 23,500 MWh of annual generation (14% increase) and 3.6 MW of capacity. In addition, the project will incorporate an upstream fish collection pool to enable reintroduction of native fish above the dam for the first time since the 1920s.            

                                                                                                                                           

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