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CROWN HYDRO

CROWN HYDRO. for our clean energy future. Presentation overview. crisis. Current electricity sources Environmental impact Public health impact. solution. Individual demand Governmental standards and incentives Independent power producers. details. Impoundment v. diversion, energy mix

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CROWN HYDRO

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  1. CROWN HYDRO for our clean energy future

  2. Presentation overview crisis • Current electricity sources • Environmental impact • Public health impact solution • Individual demand • Governmental standards and incentives • Independent power producers details • Impoundment v. diversion, energy mix • Location of Crown Hydro • History of hydro on the river context • Thorough, collaborative process • Primary and ancillary benefits • President Obama: New Energy Economy CROWN HYDRO a clean energy future

  3. Electricity sources CROWN HYDRO a clean energy future

  4. Coal:environmental impact • U.S. DOE and EPA:coal plants emit 40% of carbon dioxide in U.S., the primary cause of global climate change • Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change:threatens human populations and ecosystems with worsening heat waves, floods and droughts • ABC News/Stanford University: 88% of Americans believe global warming threatens future generations • Fox News:82% of Americans believe in global warming . CROWN HYDRO a clean energy future

  5. Coal: public health impact • Sierra Club:coal-fired power plants are the largest man-made source of mercury pollution in the U.S., and the largest contributor of hazardous air pollutants • MN Department of Health:one in five women of childbearing agehave high enough levels of mercury intheir bodies to cause birth defects • American Lung Association:24,000 people a year die prematurelybecause of pollution from coal-firedpower plants . CROWN HYDRO a clean energy future

  6. Individuals:demand clean energy “The most important thing individualscan do to combat the climate crisis is tobuy clean electricity for their homes.” -Al Gore, winner Nobel Peace Prize, 2007 Policy 6.2.1 Minneapolis will… encourage analysis and implementation of sustainable energy generation within the city including energy produced by renewable fuels… CROWN HYDRO a clean energy future

  7. Elected leaders: set standards, incentives • Minnesota: 25% by 2025 – Renewable Energy Standard • Minnesota: incentive for hydro energy • U.S.: production tax creditfor hydro energy CROWN HYDRO a clean energy future

  8. Crown Hydro: Independent Power Producer • Crown Hydro is proposing to create a small, run-of-river, hydro energy facility under the west bank of the Mississippi, downtown Minneapolis • It will have two 1.7 megawatt turbines placed 42 feet below ground • It will run only at times of average and above-average river flow – about 60% of the year • It will generate enough electricity for at least 2,000 households • It is clean, renewable, still, silent, and invisible • The same amount of energy from coal would emit18,000 tons of CO2 per year CROWN HYDRO a clean energy future

  9. Large hydro: impoundment / dam • Manitoba Hydro: • 5000 megawatts of clean, renewable energy • Dam creates height difference that generates mechanical energy • Ecological impact - erosion, flooding • Electricity transmitted from Canada CROWN HYDRO a clean energy future

  10. Small hydro: diversion / run-of-river • Crown Hydro: • 2 megawatts of clean renewable energy • Water is divertedfrom and returnedto river with naturalelevation drop thatgenerates energy • No harmfulecological impact • Locally-produced, sustainable • Used where it is produced, less energy lost in transmission CROWN HYDRO a clean energy future

  11. We need all renewableenergy sources • Hydro: • cheapest • existing infrastructure • Wind: • larger potential in Minnesota • need transmission lines from rural areas • Solar: • great potential • small-scale production here • Biomass: • cleaner than coal ornatural gas • Geothermal • in development CROWN HYDRO a clean energy future

  12. View from above intake tailrace CROWN HYDRO a clean energy future

  13. View from river CROWN HYDRO a clean energy future

  14. View from downtown CROWN HYDRO a clean energy future

  15. History: a working river Corps of Engineers stabilizes apron, spillway tunnel collapse, undermined falls first hydro electric plant in U.S. Father Hennepin names Falls saw mill to build Fort Snelling lumber, then flour milling Crown Roller Mill built Sioux, Ojibwe land Main Street station Lower Dam station Hennepin Island 1680 1821 1869 1876 1879 1850-60’s 1895-1968 1897-1987 1882-1933 1908-present CROWN HYDRO a clean energy future

  16. Crown Hydro development: an in-depth approval process community input, new site selected. MPRB negotiations Minneapolis plans Mill Ruins Park with hydro, added capacity is denied for NSP environmental, engineering, water flow studies RDF grant awarded, private financing secured Power Purchase Agreement with Xcel Energy Crown Hydro is awarded FERC license Crown Hydro applies for FERC license study historic resources impact final FERC approval lease from MPRB 1990 2002 2003 1999 future future future 1980’s 1991-1999 2000-2009 CROWN HYDRO a clean energy future

  17. Partnership with the parks • Crown Hydro is asking to lease the required land from the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board for the term of the FERC license • Crown Hydro pays 100% ofcosts for equipment, construction,maintenance, insurance, andtakes over stewardship of theraceway tunnels • Crown Hydro will pay$300,000 to the MPRBeach year • MPRB Comprehensive Plan:89% of residents supportcorporate partnerships as asource of additional revenue CROWN HYDRO a clean energy future

  18. Benefit • Clean, renewable energy for at least 2,000 homes – that’s more than 1% of householdsin Minneapolis • The same amount of energyfrom coal would emit18,000 tons of CO2 each year CROWN HYDRO a clean energy future

  19. Ancillary benefits • Parks: $3 million over next 10 years in new revenue forMinneapolis parks • Jobs and infrastructure: private investment in infrastructure, constructed and run with Union Labor • Stewardship: strengthen tunnels,provide stringent inspectionsand full insurance andindemnification for park board • Even more clean energy:state and national modelfor small hydro CROWN HYDRO a clean energy future

  20. Questions from neighbors • Water flow: Will Crown Hydro impair the aesthetics of the falls? • Historic site: Will Crown Hydro impair historic resources? • Private use of public land: Is this an appropriate private use of public land? CROWN HYDRO a clean energy future

  21. Water Flow:Will it impair the aesthetics of the falls? • Engineers retained by the MPRB, using information provided to them by University of Minnesota St. Anthony Falls Lab, have determined the total impact of Crown Hydro’s water diversion will not be visually discernable • MPRB will have the discretion and authority to shut off diversion to maintain flow • Average water flow over the St. Anthony Falls is 12,000 cfs • The current demonstration intake structure diverts about 150-250 cubic feet per second of water. The Crown Hydro intake structure will be adjustable for water flow, and cannot exceed the maximum diversion of 1,000 cfs. A transducer that measures the water level in the river will transmit a continuous signal that will reduce diversion as flow decreases, and shut off completely when flow declines toward 1000 cfs. CROWN HYDRO a clean energy future

  22. Historic Site: Will it impair historic resources? • The project is sited within the St. Anthony Falls National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) Historic District, inside the St. Anthony Falls Waterpower area, and the West Bank Milling Area • The FERC license requires that Crown Hydro work with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) to develop a plan to determine if there is historic impact and to define that historic impact • It there is historic impact, Crown Hydro must work the SHPO, with input from the Federal HSPC and the Minneapolis HPC, to determine if and how it can be mitigated – and vital historic resources protected – by appropriate measures in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) CROWN HYDRO a clean energy future

  23. Private use of public land: Is Crown Hydro an appropriate use? • Typically the use of public land is required for clean, renewable hydro projects like Crown Hydro, as many waterways are public assets. The Mississippi River is under the jurisdiction of the state. • As an independent power producer, the energy will be sold to a public utility, and subject to the same consumer protections • Minnesota statute 103G.535 says “the public health, safety, and welfare of the state is promoted by the use of state waters to produce hydroelectric power” and further “a political subdivision… may provide by a lease or development agreement for the development and operation of… hydroelectric power generation plants by an individual, a corporation, an organization, or other legal entity” • Crown Hydro has offered generous public revenue sharing CROWN HYDRO a clean energy future

  24. Right idea, right time Crown Hydro will provide clean, renewable,locally-produced, distributed energy.This project honors the proud history of the Mississippi River, represents an important infrastructure investment for our future, will generate millions of dollars for parks, and create good Union jobs.It is safe, sustainable, and unobtrusive. CROWN HYDRO a clean energy future

  25. Small hydro- big difference “There's no better driver that pervades all aspects of our economy than a new energy economy. That's going to be my #1 priority.” -Barack Obama To learn more visitwww.CrownHydro.net CROWN HYDRO a clean energy future

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