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PacifiCorp Awards Contract for Powerdale Dam Removal PacifiCorp has chosen Weekly Bros., Inc. of Idlelyd Park, OR as prime contractor to safely remove the Powerdale dam and other portions of the hydroelectric project near Hood River during 2010.Initial work began in April with the dismantling of a 200-foot-high water tank tower at the powerhouse immediately upriver from downtown Hood River. The work will close two recreation areas for periods of time between April and November when all work is expected to be complete. To ensure the safety of all, PacifiCorp is cautioning the public that it will need to stay out of these areas. PacifiCorp will provide public updates about these closures and other details as the work progresses. “PacifiCorp and Weekly Bros. will work together to complete the project and make sure all of the work is done safely. We hope to have as little disruption to local residents as possible,” said Eric Hansen, PacifiCorp’s senior project manager. The work is being done under a surrender order approved by the Federal Regulatory Energy Commission in 2005. The order was a result of a relicensing process that began in 1995 and concluded with a multi-party settlement agreement reached in 2003. Under the agreement, PacifiCorp was allowed to operate Powerdale until 2010, when generation would cease and the dam would be removed. However, serious flooding in 2006 caused extensive damage to the facility and the company decided that performing costly repairs on a plant slated for decommissioning was not cost-effective. Repairs were made to keep the facility safe, but not to enable it to resume operation. No electricity has been produced at Powerdale since November 2006. When Powerdale was operating, the plant produced about 6 megawatts of power, enough to supply the needs of about 3,000 typical residential customers annually. Powerdale began serving the region in 1923. Following decommissioning, PacifiCorp expects to transfer ownership of most of the 465 acres associated with the project to the Columbia Land Trust to protect the natural character of the Hood River Basin as it approaches the Columbia River. PacifiCorp will also provide more than $150,000 to a trust fund to ensure future maintenance of these lands. Weekly Bros. is a heavy construction firm founded in 1980. It received the contract award through a public, competitive bidding process. |
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