Alcoa begins modernization project in western North Carolina

Alcoa announced the kickoff of a $110 million modernization project at Cheoah Dam, one of four hydroelectric dams that make up Alcoa Power Generating Inc.’s Tapoco Project.  This modernization effort demonstrates Alcoa's commitment to follow through on its relicensing commitments in a timely manner.


Alcoa kicks-off Cheoah Dam Modernization Project: 
New generators, turbines, transformers to increase efficiency

Alcoa today kicked off a $110 million modernization project at Cheoah Dam, one of four hydroelectric dams that make up Alcoa Power Generating Inc.’s Tapoco Project.  The modernization effort will increase the dam’s efficiency and energy output and increase the life of the dam by at least another 40-50 years.

“Hydropower is clean, renewable, reliable and efficient,” said Rick Bowen, Alcoa Energy President. “These attributes equal sustainability – sustainable energy and sustainable jobs. That’s why we are looking forward to replacing the four 90-year-old Francis turbines with four new high-efficiency turbines, generators, and transformers which will provide an additional 22 megawatts of generating capacity at APGI’s Tapoco Cheoah plant.”

The modernization follows the recent relicensing of the Tapoco project by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The new 40-year license was effective March 1, 2005 and outlines protection, mitigation, and enhancement measures for the Project that address ecological resources as well as other beneficial uses of the Cheoah and Little Tennessee Rivers, including hydropower generation, watershed protection, endangered species enhancement, fish passage and recreational opportunities.

Click here to read the complete press release.

When the Cheoah Dam was completed in 1919, it was the world’s highest overflow dam at 225 feet.  The dam was made famous by serving as the backdrop of the jump scene in the 1993 major motion picture, The Fugitive, starring Harrison Ford.

Alcoa awarded $13 million grant to modernize hydro project in western North Carolina

The U.S. Department of Energy announced Wednesday that it has awarded $30.6 million in economic stimulus funds to help modernize seven hydroelectric projects, including an Alcoa operation in western North Carolina. The grant demonstrates the federal government’s confidence in Alcoa’s long-standing ability to generate clean, renewable energy from its hydroelectric plants.

Alcoa will receive up to $13 million to replace four 90-year-old turbines at the Tapoco Project, located along the Little Tennessee River. The Tapoco Project includes four dams – two in western North Carolina and two in Tennessee – that supply power to an aluminum smelter in Alcoa, Tennessee.

The installation of new high-efficiency turbines is expected to increase power generation by 23 percent. U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu said the investment will help the United States generate more renewable energy without building new dams.

Alcoa has begun making similar upgrades to the Yadkin Project in central North Carolina. Alcoa has not received any stimulus money for those upgrades.

For more information, read John Murawski’s report in The News & Observer.