The Lansing Board of Water and Light (BWL) just finished a $115,000 project to get the Moores Park hydroelectric dam up and running.
The dam has been out of commission since 2006, but now it’s back in
action and is producing enough energy (500 kilowatts) to power 200
homes.
“Bringing our Moores Park hydro facility online is a small but significant step toward our goal of delivering more electricity from renewable energy sources,” says BWL's general manager, J. Peter Lark. “We will continue to explore other renewable energy options that will be announced in the coming months.”
The dam has produced electricity since 1898. The dam has two units. The south unit is working, but the north unit, which has been off-line since 1992, still needs some work.
“We really want to get this one up and running, too,” says Mark Nixon with the BWL.
The BWL is determining if the north dam is in this budget. In the meantime, the BWL is making other efforts to increase its use of alternative energy. The BWL has acquired an electric car, added a biodiesal fleet and started giving energy efficient light bulbs to its customers. The BWL is also working with Granger to produce energy from methane gas.
“In the next four to six months, you’re going to hear some more cool things,” Nixon says.
Source: Mark Nixon, BWL
Ivy Hughes, development news editor, can be reached here.
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.