Popular Searches
Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
Share
Restoration of hydro plant now proceeding
By Bob Green
For Hudson-Catskill Newspapers
STUYVESANT FALLS - After years of false starts, restoration of the Stuyvesant Falls hydroelectric plant is finally proceeding on multiple fronts. Jim Besha, president of Albany Engineering, recently described progress on many different facets of the project, which aims to restore power generation at the facility. The plant was constructed in 1900 but has not produced any electricity since 1994.
"This is a job for people with patience," he told the Stuyvesant Town Board this month. Albany Engineering and the town are co-holders of a license to operate the plant granted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in 2003. The previous license was surrendered by Niagara Mohawk in 1998 due to failure to operate the plant, a FERC requirement.
Site preparation has included the removal of 10 large dumpsters full of debris, "the kind of stuff that accumulates over 100 years," Besha said. Three large but corroded steel tanks were felled like trees. This summer, sediment will be removed from the water intakes, and the first phase of penstock replacement will commence. The penstocks carry water for 4,000 feet, from pond to powerhouse.
Besha said the site will soon be "ready for major construction", and that installation of two rehabilitated generators from Calgary is expected in September. The "final push" will involve re-routing of nearby high voltage lines along with a second phase of penstock replacement, and, finally, connection to the power grid. He said he hopes the plant can go online in the second quarter of 2010.
The town will benefit once production resumes. The agreement with Albany Engineering includes PILOT (Payment In Lieu Of Taxes) payments and profit sharing.
Albany Engineering is also installing an interpretive kiosk at the falls' overlook to explain the history of hydro power at the site. The kiosk will be built to last. "It'll be here for 100 years," he said to applause from several dozen residents.
There's plenty of history to recount. The Albany and Hudson Railway and Power Company received the plant's first permit on Nov.15, 1900. It was signed by Town Supervisor Edward Van Alstyne. The original facility also had a coal-fired steam plant for power generation when the flow from Kinderhook Creek was insufficient to operate a paddle wheel.
The plant powered, among other things, the Albany and Hudson Railway, which ran 37 miles along a perilous electric third rail. Despite wire fencing described at the time as "pig proof, mule high, and bull strong", there were many stories of contact between people or animals and the third rail, according to Stuyvesant Town Historian Juanita Knott. The train's last run was in December 1929.
According to a history of the dam written by Knott, during the east coast power failure of November 1965, Stuyvesant Falls was still lit, and was observed from outer space as a luminous area on the earth's surface. Under the new agreements, power will be sold to National Grid rather than consumed locally.
In 1976, the power plant, bridge, and dam were all designated as part of the Stuyvesant Falls Historic Mills District. In 1997, with the plant shuttered, FERC advocated removing the dam, which NIMO also supported.
Residents and sportsmen successfully fought for its preservation.
Besha and his firm became interested in partnering with the town in 2001, and the plant subsequently changed hands twice. Federal law obligates license holders to generate power, so when negotiations bogged down, eminent domain proceedings were brought against owner Erie Boulevard LP and its parent, Brascan. A trial was adjourned and was about to begin again when the deal was finally hatched.
Despite its century of service, re-licensing of the plant in 2003 required an act of Congress - literally. Congressman John Sweeney and Sen. Charles Schumer both shepherded the provision until it was signed by the President in December of that year. When surrendering its license earlier, NIMO had cited repair costs and an excess supply of energy in New York state.
Besha's firm specializes in restorations like the one in Stuyvesant Falls. In November 2002, he told the New York Times that his firm had already developed more than a dozen such sites around the country.
"This is what we do; this is our business." he said.
STUYVESANT FALLS - After years of false starts, restoration of the Stuyvesant Falls hydroelectric plant is finally proceeding on multiple fronts. Jim Besha, president of Albany Engineering, recently described progress on many different facets of the project, which aims to restore power generation at the facility. The plant was constructed in 1900 but has not produced any electricity since 1994.
"This is a job for people with patience," he told the Stuyvesant Town Board this month. Albany Engineering and the town are co-holders of a license to operate the plant granted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in 2003. The previous license was surrendered by Niagara Mohawk in 1998 due to failure to operate the plant, a FERC requirement.
Site preparation has included the removal of 10 large dumpsters full of debris, "the kind of stuff that accumulates over 100 years," Besha said. Three large but corroded steel tanks were felled like trees. This summer, sediment will be removed from the water intakes, and the first phase of penstock replacement will commence. The penstocks carry water for 4,000 feet, from pond to powerhouse.
Besha said the site will soon be "ready for major construction", and that installation of two rehabilitated generators from Calgary is expected in September. The "final push" will involve re-routing of nearby high voltage lines along with a second phase of penstock replacement, and, finally, connection to the power grid. He said he hopes the plant can go online in the second quarter of 2010.
The town will benefit once production resumes. The agreement with Albany Engineering includes PILOT (Payment In Lieu Of Taxes) payments and profit sharing.
Albany Engineering is also installing an interpretive kiosk at the falls' overlook to explain the history of hydro power at the site. The kiosk will be built to last. "It'll be here for 100 years," he said to applause from several dozen residents.
There's plenty of history to recount. The Albany and Hudson Railway and Power Company received the plant's first permit on Nov.15, 1900. It was signed by Town Supervisor Edward Van Alstyne. The original facility also had a coal-fired steam plant for power generation when the flow from Kinderhook Creek was insufficient to operate a paddle wheel.
The plant powered, among other things, the Albany and Hudson Railway, which ran 37 miles along a perilous electric third rail. Despite wire fencing described at the time as "pig proof, mule high, and bull strong", there were many stories of contact between people or animals and the third rail, according to Stuyvesant Town Historian Juanita Knott. The train's last run was in December 1929.
According to a history of the dam written by Knott, during the east coast power failure of November 1965, Stuyvesant Falls was still lit, and was observed from outer space as a luminous area on the earth's surface. Under the new agreements, power will be sold to National Grid rather than consumed locally.
In 1976, the power plant, bridge, and dam were all designated as part of the Stuyvesant Falls Historic Mills District. In 1997, with the plant shuttered, FERC advocated removing the dam, which NIMO also supported.
Residents and sportsmen successfully fought for its preservation.
Besha and his firm became interested in partnering with the town in 2001, and the plant subsequently changed hands twice. Federal law obligates license holders to generate power, so when negotiations bogged down, eminent domain proceedings were brought against owner Erie Boulevard LP and its parent, Brascan. A trial was adjourned and was about to begin again when the deal was finally hatched.
Despite its century of service, re-licensing of the plant in 2003 required an act of Congress - literally. Congressman John Sweeney and Sen. Charles Schumer both shepherded the provision until it was signed by the President in December of that year. When surrendering its license earlier, NIMO had cited repair costs and an excess supply of energy in New York state.
Besha's firm specializes in restorations like the one in Stuyvesant Falls. In November 2002, he told the New York Times that his firm had already developed more than a dozen such sites around the country.
"This is what we do; this is our business." he said.
Share this Article
 |
 |
|
| Probe of hiker's death continues | 'Meskada' shoots scene in Hudson |
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of registerstar.com.
You must register with a valid email to post comments. Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here: |
Become a Registered User |
