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Residents urge River Falls to preserve Lake George and keep Junction Falls hydroelectric generation online
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Summary
Two public commenters told the Utility Advisory Board that Junction Falls Dam still produces local renewable electricity and that Lake George is a unique ecological feature worth preservation; speakers cited generation and revenue figures and urged continued support for the hydroelectric initiative.
During the public comment period on Jan. 26, two residents urged the Utility Advisory Board to recognize and support local hydroelectric generation and the ecology of Lake George.
Patricia LaRue (49 Marcella Court) told the board that Junction Falls Dam is an active hydroelectric facility that still produces electricity for the community, noted that the generator supplies local power and that annual revenues and operating costs should be factored into decisions about dam operation and maintenance. LaRue said the hydro generator feeds directly to local homes and businesses and recommended continuing generation until the dams are no longer viable.
William Hanson (address given on the record) said Lake George is a unique riparian feature in the Kinney Corridor and urged the board to preserve and enhance it; he told the board the Junction Falls generator contributes about 1,000,000 kilowatt-hours of renewable energy to the local grid annually and benefits roughly 7,400 electric customers, describing it as the city's largest renewable source.
Board chair thanked both speakers for their comments. The speakers' numerical statements were made as public comment and were not independently confirmed by staff during the meeting; the board did not take formal action on the comments at the meeting.
Closing note: staff may include hydroelectric generation data and revenue figures in future utility reports if board requests for verification are made.
