Lincoln Takes Small Step Toward Hydroelectric

Auburn, Calif.- The Placer County Water Agency will soon be generating hydroelectric energy using the water that flows from PCWA to the City of Lincoln.

The PCWA Board of Directors on Thursday (Oct. 4) awarded a $711,650 contract to F&H Construction, Inc., of Lodi, for purchase of hydroelectric generation equipment to be added to the PCWA Lincoln metering station.

Water agency Director of Technical Services Brian Martin said the micro-hydro plant will include two small generators and produce about $175,000 worth of electricity per year.  He said the agency anticipates selling the power output to the Pacific Gas and Electric Company.

Martin said that while the PCWA Power System includes five hydroelectric power plants, the Lincoln station will be the first installation on the PCWA Water System. 

 In other business, PCWA directors:

• heard an update from Director of Field Services Mike Nichol on the annual PG&E canal system maintenance outage.  He said work is planned on the Bear River Canal Oct. 14-Nov.  16 and the South Canal Nov. 17-23.  “PCWA will be rerouting water supplies to customers who are affected by the work and some rotating outages may be needed,” said Nichol.  He added that affected canal water customers would be notified. 
• heard a briefing on issues surrounding the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta from General Manager David Breninger, Director of Strategic Affairs Einar Maisch and legal adviser Janet Goldsmith.  Water purveyors across Northern California, including PCWA, remain concerned that their water supplies could be impacted by any decisions to ship more water through the Delta to southern portions of the state.  

PCWA board meetings are open to the public.  Information on PCWA board meetings may be obtained through the Clerk to the Board at (530) 823-4850 or (800) 464-0030.