Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board of directors approved a study of its raw water pipeline to Ione January 14th to see if it was a feasible power source. The board approved a study of building a hydroelectric plant at the Ione Reservoir. The study would determine how much electricity could be generated, find funding sources, and see how long it would take for income generated by a small hydropower plant to pay off the cost of construction. AWA directors made their decision based on a report by staff engineer John Griffin. The pipeline is about 38,800 feet in length and drops 1,149 feet in elevation, from the Tanner Reservoir to the AWA’s property at the Ione Reservoir. Interim Engineering and Planning Manager Erik Christeson said: “Theoretically, a hydropower plant … has the potential to generate a significant amount of electricity that could provide steady income to the agency.” He said “a feasibility study will tell us whether or not a project like this would be cost-effective under real-world conditions.” Griffin said over the years, staff has “peripherally explored” generating power with water flowing in the Ione pipeline, but “the anticipated initial capital expenditure has always been cost-prohibitive.” He said staff met recently with Energy Service Company to discuss possible planning, design, construction and funding. Energy Service Company has offered to fund a feasibility study, in exchange for a “sole source contract.” Griffin said AWA attorney Stephen Kronick “has confirmed that the agency is permitted to enter into sole source contracts.” Griffin said staff also had discussion with “an engineering firm that has performed similar hydropower projects on existing pipelines for neighboring water agencies.” Griffin said “soliciting proposals for a feasibility level study” is anticipated to cost less that $20,000” and gives the agency “full access to the report.” He said the AWA engineering committee members, President Bill Condrashoff and Director Terence Moore “recommended staff move forward with preparation of a Request for Proposals for the feasibility-level study from an independent consultant.” He said they expressed a “desire to obtain as much information as possible for the project.” The board approved the recommendation. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Monday, 25 January 2010 01:19
AWA To Study Hydropower On Ione Pipeline
Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board of directors approved a study of its raw water pipeline to Ione January 14th to see if it was a feasible power source. The board approved a study of building a hydroelectric plant at the Ione Reservoir. The study would determine how much electricity could be generated, find funding sources, and see how long it would take for income generated by a small hydropower plant to pay off the cost of construction. AWA directors made their decision based on a report by staff engineer John Griffin. The pipeline is about 38,800 feet in length and drops 1,149 feet in elevation, from the Tanner Reservoir to the AWA’s property at the Ione Reservoir. Interim Engineering and Planning Manager Erik Christeson said: “Theoretically, a hydropower plant … has the potential to generate a significant amount of electricity that could provide steady income to the agency.” He said “a feasibility study will tell us whether or not a project like this would be cost-effective under real-world conditions.” Griffin said over the years, staff has “peripherally explored” generating power with water flowing in the Ione pipeline, but “the anticipated initial capital expenditure has always been cost-prohibitive.” He said staff met recently with Energy Service Company to discuss possible planning, design, construction and funding. Energy Service Company has offered to fund a feasibility study, in exchange for a “sole source contract.” Griffin said AWA attorney Stephen Kronick “has confirmed that the agency is permitted to enter into sole source contracts.” Griffin said staff also had discussion with “an engineering firm that has performed similar hydropower projects on existing pipelines for neighboring water agencies.” Griffin said “soliciting proposals for a feasibility level study” is anticipated to cost less that $20,000” and gives the agency “full access to the report.” He said the AWA engineering committee members, President Bill Condrashoff and Director Terence Moore “recommended staff move forward with preparation of a Request for Proposals for the feasibility-level study from an independent consultant.” He said they expressed a “desire to obtain as much information as possible for the project.” The board approved the recommendation. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Latest from
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