The generator in Albany’s Vine Street powerhouse has been quiet this fall, a period when normally it would have been running. But it may start up again in a matter of days and once again earning money from electricity sales.
Hope for saving Albany Hydro
Written November 8th, 2017 by Hasso Hering
Albany officials think there’s a way to keep operating the city’s electric generator while cutting back on regulatory expenses. Let’s hope they are right and Albany’s historic role in hydropower production can be continued and preserved.
Albany Hydro restart is delayed
Written October 13th, 2017 by Hasso Hering
The water you see rushing down the end of the Albany Santiam Canal on Friday is not, obviously, going through the turbine of Albany Hydro. The hydropower generator has been shut down since June, which is normal, but its restart this fall has been delayed.
Posted in: Commentary, News, Videos
Tags: Albany hydro, Vine Street generator, Vine Street power plant
Tags: Albany hydro, Vine Street generator, Vine Street power plant
Cost of rules may kill Albany hydro
Written March 5th, 2017 by Hasso Hering
Albany’s small hydropower plant, restored in 2009 at a cost of about $2.2 million, was never going to justify the investment in terms of money. Now, rising costs due to more federal regulation are causing the city staff to consider shutting the operation down.
River’s rise stops Albany hydro
Written December 16th, 2015 by Hasso Hering
Trying to make money from its small hydropower generator, the city of Albany can’t seem to catch a break. Much of last year there was too little water to run the turbine, and now there is too much.
Albany Hydro: Hoping for better
Written November 26th, 2015 by Hasso Hering
Last year and this, sad to say, have not been money makers for Albany Hydro. The generator had to be shut down much of the time, but it started spinning again this month. And the outlook for next year depends on whether we get a reasonable amount of mountain snow.
Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Albany hydro, Albany-Santiam Canal, electric production, South Santiam River
Tags: Albany hydro, Albany-Santiam Canal, electric production, South Santiam River
City on canal recreation: No way!
Written September 17th, 2014 by Hasso Hering
Albany has told the federal government it has no intention of opening trails or allowing any other recreational use along the 18-mile Albany-Santiam Canal, no matter what it might say in its Town Center Plan or the downtown urban renewal program. And that is just one of the many issues — and a minor one […]
Albany Hydro, keeping history alive
Written November 12th, 2013 by Hasso Hering
If you walk up the Calapooia River bridge from Albany’s Bryant Park — on the upstream side without a sidewalk, taking your life in your hands in case a big pickup comes by — look down to your right and you can see the turbine shaft of the city’s hydropower plant spinning again. It’s another […]
Albany Hydro running again
Albany Hydro, the 500-kw generator powered by water from the Santiam Canal, is back in business. It started up Friday when the flow in the canal was sufficient once again.
Tags: Albany hydro, Vine Street powerhouse