This is how you can tell that the Albany hydropower generator is turning again after the long dry summer and fall: The Calapooia River is churning where the water enters the river after falling through the turbine.
The view is through the railing of the Third Avenue Bridge coming out of Bryant Park. In the foreground, water spills into the river off a flume. Behind that is a big metal tube going down into the river. That’s where a torrent gushes down and into the river after turning the turbine that drives the 500-kw generator in the power house above.
The city’s federal hydropower license restricts turbine operations to periods when the flow of the South Santiam River above Lebanon is at least 1,100 cubic feet per second. As a result, the generator usually is still for much of the summer and fall.
I stopped on a ride Saturday to record that the generator is operating again. Here’s a report from the bridge:
Albany already has enough electricity for its needs. It doesn’t need to sell the itty bitty amount of electricity this plant generates to Pacific Power.
And spending millions to buy a Chinese generator and rehab a 100 year old plant was a wasteful use of public funds. An unreasonable price to pay for an environmentally destructive piece of Albany history.
Tear down this relic and join the 21st century.
“Tear down this relic…”
That was contemplated several years ago. However, the expense in doing so (plus working through FERC, etc.) quickly put the kibosh on that idea!
GS
Demo isn’t free. Since that would be an unbudgeted expense, how much would you contribute?
Could have just left it in place, don’t restore or demolish.
I remember there was a (gas?) spill when it first operated.
I glad we have this generator. It is good to have a backup in case of blackouts or other disasters. I know it cannot power the whole town but it could be wired to some of the larger and more critical buildings that could be used as shelters and to power people’s portable devices.
A 500kw inverter system costs how much?
…..”As a result, the generator usually is still for much of the summer and fall.”
Are you going to plan the timing of natural disasters?
Go buy a small generator for your needs if your cell phone is that important to you.
JB
BKs reply leaves muchnto be desired. Here’s a more technical one.
When that facility was erected years ago, 1000 kw (2 generators) was plenty. Today’s single 500 kw unit will drive about 600 hp. It might be able to provide backup power to part of the water system if it’s connected that way. Otherwise it will go down with the grid. (Don’t want to overspeed the turbine or backfeed the grid)
How many “important buildings” already have a back up generator system.
Even the “new” library has one on the back side. How “urgent” is that building in time of crisis other than a place to send emails to loved ones. Most people can text instead.
There’s enough people with RV’s and other portable generators to charge cell phones. Maybe they’ll share?
BK
Having many years tied to a fragile part of the grid, before generators were common, I can say that cellphones weren’t a priority. Warmth, water, food, and light were.
Nice to know that the library has backup power.
You have to go back to the poster that want’s to use the generator to power peoples “electronic devices”, to keep things in context.
A pretty stupid idea considering the more portable options.