Feasibility Report for Hydropower, St. Anthony Falls Locks and Dams, Mississippi River, Minneapolis, Minnesota

摘要

This report presents a more detailed evaluation of the additional hydropower potential at both Upper and Lower St. Anthony Falls. An earlier evaluation in a reconnaissance level report dated September 1981 showed preliminary feasibility for added hydropower development at both locations. There are existing hydropower development at both locations. There are existing hydropower plants at each location that are owned and operated by Northern States Power Company. The existing units generate at nameplate capacities of 12.4 MW (megawatts) at Hennepin Island (Upper St. Anthony Falls) and 8.0 MW at Lower Dam (Lower St. Anthony Falls). This study was conducted assuming Federal development of additional hydropower at St. Anthony Falls. Project cost data, economic parameters, and other information would be different when assuming development by the present hydropower license, Northern States Power Company. This study concludes that added hydroelectric capacities of 21.0 MW at Upper St. Anthony Falls and 5.4 MW at Lower St. Anthony Falls are the optimum amounts that could be added at these two sites. The upper and lower sites would produce additional average annual energy of 65,120 and 18,900 MWh (megawatt-hours), respectively. The added energy developed from these two sites would be equivalent to 143,000 barrels of oil or 39,000 tons of coal per year.