DICKINSON COUNTY -- We Energies is attempting to build a new powerhouse for its hyrdo dam near Iron Mountain. Officials at the Twin Falls hydro dam near the Menominee River are attempting to build a new powerhouse on the Wisconsin side of the river.
The current facility is very old. In fact it's over 100 years old, and it's not operating as efficiently as it could. That's why, according to the people at We Energies, building a new facility is in order.
“The project is just tired,” said Todd Jastremski. “The turbines inside the powerhouse are tired. The structure itself is also beyond its useful life.”
The turbine generators are also old and inefficient. We Energies says that a new powerhouse would solve a lot of their problems. The project also includes plans to protect fish. They'll use special turbine generators that make it easier for fish to pass through.
“It'll provide better protection for fish that are in the water that pass though the turbine as it generates electricity,” says Rod Miller.
“What we'll end up with is a powerhouse with less units that's more environmentally friendly to fish and other aquatic creatures and that will generate more renewable energy for the area,” Jastremski says.
The project is expected to begin as soon as they get approval from various state agencies. Their goal is to complete the project by summer 2016.
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