Willow Island Hydroelectric Plant
The Willow Island hydroelectric facility is a 44-megawatt (MW) run-of-the-river hydroelectric power plant providing renewable* generation to the region. It is part of the AMP Combined Hydroelectric Project.
Willow Island Hydroelectric Plant
The Willow Island Hydroelectric Plant diverts water from the existing U.S. Army Corps Willow Island Locks and Dam, located on the Ohio River near St. Marys, West Virginia, approximately 162 river miles downstream of the Point in Pittsburgh, the location of the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers. The Willow Island plant is on the West Virginia side of the Ohio River, on the opposite shore of the locks.
The plant uses bulb turbines to generate an average annual output of approximately 239 million kilowatt-hours (kWh). The site includes an intake approach channel, a reinforced concrete powerhouse and a tailrace channel. The powerhouse contains two horizontal bulb-type turbines and generating units with an estimated total capacity of 44 MW at a gross head of 20 feet.
Willow Island by the Numbers
Participation
There are 79 American Municipal Power, Inc. (AMP) Member communities in Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia receiving power from the Willow Island hydroelectric facility. The plant is part of the AMP Combined Hydroelectric Project, also known as AMP Phase 1 Hydroelectric Project, which also includes the Cannelton and Smithland plants.
Construction
Excavation and cofferdam construction started in June 2011 and powerhouse construction began in December 2012. The plant reached full commercial operational in February 2016.
*Note that AMP, on behalf of its Members, sells all or a portion of the renewable energy certificates created by its renewable energy projects, power purchase agreements and joint ventures to help reduce its wholesale power costs.