The Meldahl hydroelectric facility is a 105 MW run-of-the-river hydroelectric power plant providing renewable generation to the region. Located in Foster, Kentucky, the facility is the largest hydroelectric power plant on the Ohio River.
The Meldahl Hydroelectric Plant diverts water from the existing U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Dam through bulb turbines anticipated to generate an average annual output of approximately 558 million kilowatt-hours (kWh). The site includes an intake approach channel, a reinforced concrete powerhouse and a tailrace channel. The powerhouse contains three horizontal bulb-type turbine and generating units with a total rated capacity of 105 MW.
The Captain Anthony Meldahl Locks and Dam are located in Foster, Kentucky, approximately an hour southeast of Cincinnati. The Meldahl Hydroelectric Plant is on the Kentucky side of the Ohio River, on the opposite shore of the locks.
Participation
AMP owns the Meldahl Hydroelectric Plant through a separate wholly owned limited liability company. AMP developed the project with the member community of Hamilton, Ohio, which originally procured the development license from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Hamilton retains the rights for a 51.4 percent share of the energy output from the facility, with AMP taking the remaining output for the 47 other AMP members participating in the project.
Construction
Excavation and cofferdam construction began in 2010 and powerhouse construction began in August 2011. The plant reached full commercial operation in April 2016.