Minutes 09/11/1978 - Laserfiche WebLink

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MONDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 1978 DESCRIPTION The principal features of the proposed Ridgeway Hydroelectric Project will consist of a dam, power intake, powerhouse, service spillway, emergency spillway and reservoir. The dam will be approximately 100 feet high, and is located on the Smith River in Henry County approximately one mile upstream of Morgan's Ford bridge. The reservoir will extend 13.5 miles upstream from the dam to the vicinity of the City's Wastewater Treatment Plant, and will contain approximately 81,000 acre-feet of total storage. POWER GENERATION - The Project will be utilized for "peaking power", power generated during the time of the heaviest electrical loads which lasts for only several hours a day. The installed plant generating capacity will be 17,250 kilowatts which will produce approximately 30,508,000 kilowatt hours of electrical energy annually. The installed capacity of the Project will be equal to 35% of the City's 1985 peak demand. The Project energy production will be equal to 14% of the annual requirement of the City in 1985. USE OF NATURAL RESOURCES The Project is a hydroelectric project utilizing water power which is a renewable resource that will be used to conserve depletable gas and oil energy resources. The average annual energy produced by this Project will be equal to a savings of fuel oil reserves of more than 60,000 barrels (2,520,000 gallons) each year. RESERVOIR FLUCTUATION The average daily operation of the Project as a peaking plant is sufficient to fluctuate the reservoir water surface less than one foot. The average annual fluctuation of the reservoir will be approximately three feet and should have little or no effect on fish and wildlife. PROJECT FINANCING - The Total Capital Requirements based on a scheduled on-line date of January 1985 is estimated at $39,762,000. The Project will be financed through issue of revenue bonds or general obligation bonds which will be paid for entirely by the Utility Department's revenues. The cost of the Project will therefore never enter into the City's tax rate. Taxes paid by the Project, however, might serve to reduce taxes on other items. RECREATION The reservoir with a normal surface area of 2,400 acres contains over 100 miles of shoreline with numerous inlets and coves for fishing and boating. Both private and public recreational potential exists such as swimming beaches, marinas, picnicking areas, campsites, summer homesites and permanent homesites. A trout fishery potential exists downstream of the dam along the Smith River with cold water releases from the reservoir. - ~ .I; .A. ur..;._