Here & There Column 7-21-09

Neversink Reservoir And Hydro Power

At full capacity the Neversink Reservoir holds 34.9 billion gallons and now in addition to supplying water to New York City there is a proposal to have a hydroelectric plant built at this location.
United States Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) last week asked the New York City Department of Environmental Protection agency to speed up talks with Delaware County Electric Cooperative regarding that group's efforts to build hydroelectric plants at the Cannonsville, Pepacton, Schoharie and Neversink reservoirs.
The plants would use water from the reservoirs' regular releases to generate electricity.
The electricity could be used for economic development or sold to provide revenues to the cooperatives members in Sullivan, Delaware, Otsego, Chenango and Schoharie counties.
Of the renewable energy sources that generate electricity, hydro power is the most often used and its accounting for 6 percent of total U.S. electricity generation. It is one of the oldest sources of energy.
We look at hydro power as the ideal fuel for electricity generation, because, unlike the nonrenewable fuels used to generate electricity, it is almost free, there are no waste products and hydro power does not pollute the water or the air.
There is some criticism of hydro power because it does change the environment by affecting natural habitats but this does not appear to be the case in regard to Neversink and the other three reservoirs.
The Neversink Reservoir was constructed solely to provide water for New York City but this new hydro power proposal brings to the table some interesting topics.
This project could have merits but we would like to see more benefits from the Neversink Reservoir hydro power project coming to electric customers in Sullivan County.
Inquiries should be made to see if this proposed project could benefit Sullivan County and its residents.