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River Falls resident urges council to consider Junction Falls hydro for emergency power, warns against Lake George removal
Summary
At public comment, William Hanson asked the council to consider using Junction Falls hydroelectric generation as emergency backup power instead of a fossil-fuel generator and warned that removing Lake George would harm migratory bird habitat; another speaker promoted EarthFest events.
During the public comment period April 22, River Falls resident William Hanson urged the council to consider the Junction Falls hydroelectric facility as a possible emergency backup power source rather than installing a fossil-fuel-fired portable generator for Well 4.
Hanson said the council had on the agenda a proposed expense "of over a hundred and $9,000 for fossil fuel fired backup" to serve Well 4 and questioned whether the Junction Falls hydro, which he described as running "24 7," could be configured as an emergency backup supply. He also raised concerns about a separate agenda item and its potential effect on local habitat, saying a migratory bird resolution and the possible destruction of Lake George "will reduce biodiversity in the Kinney Corridor and reduce local bird count due to loss of habitat." Hanson asked the council to consider those two issues in decisions about the Junction Falls dam and hydroelectric facility.
A second public commenter recognized Earth Day, invited the public to EarthFest at the University of Wisconsin–River Falls University Center on Saturday, April 26 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., and noted a pre-event performance by the Smoky Town Singers at 11 a.m.
Council did not take immediate action on Hanson’s requests during the public comment period; the generator purchase for Well 4 was later approved as part of the consent agenda.
