New form of hydropower to be used in Hastings (MN)

[jpak]

http://www.hastingsstargazette.com/articles/index.cfm?id=29899§ion=mnnews,Minnesota%20News&property_id=23

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On Wednesday morning, a revolutionary power source arrived in Hastings and was painstakingly lifted onto the barge that will become its new home.

Unlike regular hydroelectric plants, which harness energy from water as it drops down man-made structures like dams, this new technology will use the Mississippi River’s natural current to create electricity. It’s the first of its kind in the world.

The 35-ton unit will be anchored on a barge about 50 feet downstream from Lock and Dam 2 and the Hastings hydroelectric plant. The energy it produces will be routed through the existing infrastructure there.

The electricity will be sold to Xcel Energy via the city’s existing power purchase agreement it has with Xcel for the hydropower plant. The profits will be split 50/50 between Hydro Green Energy, the company that developed the technology, and the city. It’s expected the city will make about $20,000 annually from the deal.

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[Greyskye]

1. Nice.

The electricity will be sold to Xcel Energy via the city’s existing power purchase agreement it has with Xcel for the hydropower plant. The profits will be split 50/50 between Hydro Green Energy, the company that developed the technology, and the city. It’s expected the city will make about $20,000 annually from the deal.

Running at full capacity, the new technology could generate enough electricity to power 124 homes for one year.

[MinneapolisMatt]

2. That's the town I grew up in!

YAY!!!!!!

Now, if we can only get the bridge crossing the Mississippi replaced there. (It is the lowest rated bridge still standing in the state...worse than the 35W bridge was rated when it collapsed...)

Hastings also used to have a semi-famous "spiral bridge", which was sadly demolished in the fifties.

Thankfully, the new bridge is being fast-tracked, but still won't be started for a couple of more years. :(

I'm still proud of my town though. Imagine my surprise seeing it on DU's Greatest Page!

Cool pic of the long-gone Spiral Bridge:




Thanks, jpak, for giving my old hometown a shout out.

-Matt :)