Hydroelectric Plants in Michigan, Minnesota & Wisconsin

Fond du Lac Location: MN Operator: Minnesota Power Configuration: 1 X 12 MW Operation: 1924 T/G supplier: ?? Quick facts: Fond du Lac is part of the larger St. Louis River Hydroelectric Project which has four hydroelectric developments and five headwater reservoirs on various tributaries of the St Louis River in Minnesota. The Fond du Lac concrete arch dam has a length of 581ft and a 600ft earth dike ties the west dam abutment to high ground. An intake structure supports two penstocks with one 18-ft diameter riveted steel pipe installed. Dam construction began in 1923. A 10-MW expansion is planned. Photograph courtesy of Allete Posted 30 Jul 2008	Ford Hydro Location: MN Operator: Ford Motor Co Configuration: 4 X 4.48 MW Francis Operation: 1924 T/G supplier: Wellman-Seaver-Morgan, WH Quick facts: This plant at Lock and Dam No 1 on the Mississippi River in Saint Paul was used to partially power the Twin Cities Assembly Plant, now scheduled for closure. The hydroelectric plant was put up for sale in 2006. Photograph by Mulad (wikipedia) Posted 17 Feb 2007	Little Chute Location: WI Operator: Kaukauna Utilities Configuration: 3 X 1.1 MW Kaplan Operation: 1948 T/G supplier: AC Quick facts: Part of the Fox River dam system Photograph courtesy of US Army Corps of Engineers Posted 27 Dec 2004
Marquette Two Location: MI Operator: Marquette Board of Light & Power Configuration: 2 X 1.6 MW Francis Operation: 1922 T/G supplier: S Morgan Smith Photograph courtesy of Marquette Board of Light & Power Posted 4 Jul 2004		Sault Ste Marie Location: MI Operator: Edison Sault Electric Co Configuration: 74 X 600 kW Operation: 1902 T/G supplier: Jolly McCormick, S Morgan Smith, Wellman, Seaver, Morgan Quick facts: The Edison Sault power plant extends a quarter-mile along the St Marys River. The project was developed by Francis Clergue, who hoped to use the 21ft drop between Lake Superior and the lower portion of the river to generate electricity that would then attract new industries to Sault Ste Marie. Excavation of the 2.25mi canal feeding the plant began in Sep 1898 and completed in Jun 1902. Powerhouse construction started in Mar 1900 and it was officially opened on 25 Oct 1902, the second largest hydro plant in the USA. Edison Sault purchased the plant and canal in 1963 from Union Carbide Co for $1.5mn and then spent $1mn to convert the plant from 55Hz operation to 60Hz. Another $8mn was spent in 1992 on modernization and automation. The plant was named an ASME National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark in May 1981. Photograph courtesy of Power Posted 13 Jan 2010

Abbreviations

Data: industcards, Platts UDI World Electric Power Plants Data Base

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