Appalachian Power will receive $5 million in federal funding to upgrade its Claytor hydroelectric plant on the New River in Pulaski County, Virginia.
The utility company will use this money to help replace old equipment on two of the plant’s four turbine-generator units, which each produce 75 megawatts of power. One unit was upgraded last year, and work on the second one is expected to finish this year, according to Appalachian Power spokesperson George Porter.
This funding comes from the federal Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity Incentive program, which supports projects that improve dam safety, ensure reliable electricity, and protect jobs. The program is part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, according to the U.S. Department of Energy DOE.
We’re excited to use this funding to enhance our service and improve reliability for our customers, Porter said. This project will not only improve electricity service but also benefit the water quality of the New River downstream from the Claytor facility.
Appalachian Power’s project is one of 293 across 33 states selected to receive part of a $430 million package, the DOE announced. More funding will be available next year.
Earlier this year, Appalachian’s Byllesby hydroelectric plant in Carroll County, also on the New River, was awarded $2.1 million in federal funding to replace equipment and boost power production.
According to the DOE, hydropower makes up 27% of renewable energy in the U.S., but many facilities are aging and need upgrades. Renewable energy, including solar, wind, and hydropower, accounts for 9% of the electricity used by Appalachian Power’s customers in Virginia.
The Claytor plant has been operating since 1939. The Byllesby plant, built in 1912, along with the nearby Buck plant, has a combined power output of about 30 megawatts.
Hydropower has kept America running for almost 150 years, said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm. The Biden-Harris Administration is making sure these facilities continue to provide clean power.
Appalachian Power has about eight employees maintaining its three hydroelectric plants on the New River.
Virginia has 25 conventional hydroelectric plants, including the ones in Pulaski and Carroll counties, and two pumped-storage plants. These plants generate electricity by moving water between reservoirs during times of high demand. Conventional hydroelectric plants produce less than 2% of Virginia’s electricity, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.