Plans afoot for new hydroelectric facility along Niagara River

[jpak]

http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/story/202053.html?imw=Y

WASHINGTON — The Buffalo area may find itself capitalizing on the awesome power of the Niagara River in a new way, thanks to federal plans to study the feasibility of a new small-scale hydroelectric facility along the river.

Congress is finalizing action on a huge water resources bill that, while setting plans for dams and other waterways nationwide, also authorizes $500,000 to research a possible “low-head” hydropower facility somewhere along the river.

“In Western New York, we have been blessed with the tremendous natural resource that is the Niagara River,” said Rep. Louise M. Slaughter, D-Fairport, who included the study in the Water Resources Development Act.

“I have been working for many years to encourage a feasibility study on establishing a low-head hydro generating facility on the Niagara River, and I am pleased that this study was able to be included,” she said. “I look forward to seeing the results.”

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