CPP has invested in five hydroelectric power plants: Cannelton, Smithland, Willow Island, Meldahl, and Greenup, and receives approximately a combined 60 megawatts of power from these facilities.
These facilities use run-of-the-river hydroelectric generation, which utilizes the energy from water flowing over existing dams and eliminates the need to alter the landscape through construction of new dams. Instead, turbines were built either alongside or at a lower elevation never changing the landscape, just slightly altering the infrastructure. It is advantageous for CPP to invest in hydroelectric projects with preexisting dams because that lowers the investment cost, which in turn allows CPP to keep the cost of electricity at an affordable rate for its ratepayers.
With all plants operational, CPP receives seventeen and a half percent of its portfolio from hydroelectric power.
Cannelton
The Cannelton Project diverts water from the existing Corps Cannelton Locks and Dam through bulb turbines to generate an average gross annual output of approximately 458,000,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh). The site includes an intake approach channel, a reinforced concrete powerhouse, and a tailrace channel. CPP’s share of the three units on this site is about 89 MW.
Smithland
The Smithland Project diverts water from the existing Corps Smithland Locks and Dam through bulb turbines to generate an average gross annual output of approximately 379,000,000 kWh. The site includes an intake approach channel, a reinforced concrete powerhouse, and a tailrace channel. This plant has three units and CPP’s share is approximately 76 MW.
Willow Island
The Willow Island Project diverts water from the existing Corps Willow Island Locks and Dam through bulb turbines to generate an average annual output of approximately 239,000,000 kWh. The site includes an intake approach channel, a reinforced concrete powerhouse, and a tailrace channel. CPP receives appximately 44 MW from this plant.
Meldahl
This hydroelectric plant located near Maysville, Kentucky is the largest hydro plant on the Ohio River. This plant diverts water from the existing U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Dam through bulb turbines anticipated to generate an average annual output of approximately 558 million kilowatt-hours (kWh). The site includes an intake approach channel, a reinforced concrete powerhouse and a tailrace channel. The powerhouse contains three horizontal bulb-type turbine and generating units with a total rated capacity of 105 MW. Cleveland Public Power receives about 9 MW of power from this plant.
Greenup
The Greenup hydroelectric plant is the oldest of the five plants CPP has an interest in and is located on the Ohio side of the Ohio River near Portsmouth, Ohio. The site, placed into commercial operation in 1982, generates approximately 282 million kWh annually. CPP receives approximately 6 MW from this plant.