Field trip to Willow Island Hydropower Project

Dave Pritchard has arranged for a tour of the Willow Island hydropower project on Friday, October 11. The project is a hydroelectric powerplant currently under construction on the WV side of the Ohio River at the US Army Corps of Engineers Willow Island Locks and Dam. Willow Island is located in Pleasant County, West Virginia, approximately 162 river miles downstream of Point Bridge, Pittsburgh. It is about 2.5 hours from Columbus, between Parkersburg and St. Marys WV, reached via I70 and I77. The tour will meet with the project manager at the site at 1pm.

The Willow Island project will divert water from the existing Corps Willow Island Locks and Dam through bulb turbines to generate an average annual output of approximately 239 million kilowatt-hours (kWh). The site will include an intake approach channel, a reinforced concrete powerhouse and a tailrace channel. The powerhouse will house two horizontal FERC rated 17.5-MW bulb-type turbine and generating units with an estimated total FERC rated capacity of 35 MW at a gross head of 20 feet. A 1.6-mile-long 138 kV transmission line interconnection is planned to connect to PJM.

Safety equipment needed – hardhat, boots, safety vest and safety glasses. There will be a few available at the site, but please bring your own if at all possible

Directions- The best way there is 70 to 77 south, first exit after Ohio river bridge turn right then left on to 31. Take 31 to stop sign which is Route 2, turn left on Route 2. Go about 8 miles, project will be on the left, right after a Credit Union. Turn left on fishing access right after you pass the doublewide office trailers. Turn left into the trailer compound and proceed to the MWH trailer 3rd one on left.

For signup please contact Dave Pritchard at 614-519-4819 or email davepritchard@sbcglobal.net . Please contact him if you want to carpool and he will arrange vehicle and meeting place. Please let him know even if you plan to drive independently so he can give the owner’s manager, Jeff Snoke of AMP Ohio, a head count.

David Pritchard, PE
davepritchard@sbcglobal.net
Tel. 614-519-4819