| Pacific
Northwest Region Boise, Idaho October 1, 2002 |
Contact: |
Generator Contract Awarded at Diversion Dam Power Plant
A contract totaling more than $3.9 million for the rehabilitation of the three turbines and generators at Boise Diversion Dam Power Plant has been awarded to American Hydro Corporation according to the Bureau of Reclamation.
American Hydro Corporation, based in York, Pennsylvania, will design and fabricate virtually all components of three hydraulic turbines and generators at the power plant.
According to Reclamation, the return of the Boise River Diversion Dam Power Plant to operation will help meet needs of Idaho's federal power customers. Currently not enough power is generated by the federal power system in Idaho to meet demand.
The project is a partnership between Reclamation and Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). The funding is provided by BPA. The work is expected to begin in November, 2002 and be completed in spring, 2004.
Boise River Diversion Power Plant is located about 7 miles southeast of Boise. It was built by the Bureau of Reclamation in 1912, originally to provide power for the construction of Arrowrock Dam. After Arrowrock Dam was built, the powerplant operated for 70 years to supply power for irrigation pumping, with surplus power being marketed by Bonneville Power Administration. The plant has not been operated since 1982.
A contemporary water management agency, Reclamation is the largest wholesale water supplier in the United States, with operations and facilities in the 17 Western States. Today, these facilities include 348 reservoirs with the capacity to store 245 million acre-feet of water. Reclamation projects supply one out of five Western farmers with irrigation water for approximately 10 million farmland acres. Reclamation facilities also provide water to about 31 million people for municipal and industrial uses. In addition, Reclamation is the nation's second largest producer of hydroelectric power, generating more than 42 billion kilowatt hours of energy each year from 58 hydroelectric power plants. Its facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation and fish and wildlife benefits.
- BOR -
Visit our web site at http://www.pn.usbr.gov