coal power plants being eliminated in Kentucky? (Russell, Cumberland: how much, homes)

[mark abby]

Problem is they have to go to natural gas, which will increase prices...again.

So, my question is this: In 1951, they moved hundreds of Kentuckians out of their homes, farms and businesses to build the Wolf Creek Dam and resulting in the Cumberland Lake. However, none of this hydroelectric power supplies Kentucky, but rather it goes into Tennessee. The people of Kentucky gave up so much, (altho they were paid ) to move out and be relocated. Imagine the government telling you you HAVE to move and they pay you what they felt was " market value" for your family home.

Why aren't these dams in Kentucky supplying the people of Kentucky with the power from these dams, instead of us paying premium price for cola or gas fired power plants? After all, the water is endless and doesn't cost like coal or gas. Maybe it's time we utilize our resources before supplying every one else in other states?

I tried to ask our representative that question, but my email was rejected for being "too long". lol

[marino760]

Originally Posted by mark abby

Problem is they have to go to natural gas, which will increase prices...again.

So, my question is this: In 1951, they moved hundreds of Kentuckians out of their homes, farms and businesses to build the Wolf Creek Dam and resulting in the Cumberland Lake. However, none of this hydroelectric power supplies Kentucky, but rather it goes into Tennessee. The people of Kentucky gave up so much, (altho they were paid ) to move out and be relocated. Imagine the government telling you you HAVE to move and they pay you what they felt was " market value" for your family home.

Why aren't these dams in Kentucky supplying the people of Kentucky with the power from these dams, instead of us paying premium price for cola or gas fired power plants? After all, the water is endless and doesn't cost like coal or gas. Maybe it's time we utilize our resources before supplying every one else in other states?

I tried to ask our representative that question, but my email was rejected for being "too long". lol

Write a shorter email and ask the question concisely without editorializing, story telling and sounding critical. Then see what happens.

[Crazee Cat Lady]

Originally Posted by mark abby

Problem is they have to go to natural gas, which will increase prices...again.

So, my question is this: In 1951, they moved hundreds of Kentuckians out of their homes, farms and businesses to build the Wolf Creek Dam and resulting in the Cumberland Lake. However, none of this hydroelectric power supplies Kentucky, but rather it goes into Tennessee. The people of Kentucky gave up so much, (altho they were paid ) to move out and be relocated. Imagine the government telling you you HAVE to move and they pay you what they felt was " market value" for your family home.

Why aren't these dams in Kentucky supplying the people of Kentucky with the power from these dams, instead of us paying premium price for cola or gas fired power plants? After all, the water is endless and doesn't cost like coal or gas. Maybe it's time we utilize our resources before supplying every one else in other states?

I tried to ask our representative that question, but my email was rejected for being "too long". lol

Interesting question. And you make a good point.
Let us know what you find out, if you can find out anything about it.


Here is an interesting site about the history of the dam.

According to my analysis, 1,649 structures that existed in 1943 became submerged by the reservoir. Shown earlier, the Rowena Steamboat, earned its name from a community located just southeast of the modern-day Lake Cumberland State Park, on the river's edge. The Rowena community was one of many that relocated to higher ground. Among the 1,649 affected structures were 7 schools, 3 churches, and 17 cemeteries (Figure 9).






https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories...988d5729ef5e73

It seems to be run and operated by the Army Corp of Engineers out of Nashville.
https://www.lrn.usace.army.mil/Locat...olf-Creek-Dam/

[GWoodle]

Originally Posted by mark abby

Problem is they have to go to natural gas, which will increase prices...again.

So, my question is this: In 1951, they moved hundreds of Kentuckians out of their homes, farms and businesses to build the Wolf Creek Dam and resulting in the Cumberland Lake. However, none of this hydroelectric power supplies Kentucky, but rather it goes into Tennessee. The people of Kentucky gave up so much, (altho they were paid ) to move out and be relocated. Imagine the government telling you you HAVE to move and they pay you what they felt was " market value" for your family home.

Why aren't these dams in Kentucky supplying the people of Kentucky with the power from these dams, instead of us paying premium price for cola or gas fired power plants? After all, the water is endless and doesn't cost like coal or gas. Maybe it's time we utilize our resources before supplying every one else in other states?

I tried to ask our representative that question, but my email was rejected for being "too long". lol

A better question may be if this is TVA power. True, the Corps of Engineers operate & maintain the dam.

Not sure how much of KY is on TVA power vrs other utilities. you will have to check to see who the local distributor is. May be a unit of local government.

The Wolf Creek dam is one of 8 on the Cumberland River.

[jetgraphics]

Originally Posted by mark abby

I tried to ask our representative that question, but my email was rejected for being "too long". lol

FYI - if you really want his answer (or a response) use the MAIL.
US Mail = legal service.
He can ignore email. He cannot ignore snail mail.
Include your phone number if you want a call back.

[jetgraphics]

Originally Posted by mark abby

So, my question is this: In 1951, they moved hundreds of Kentuckians out of their homes, farms and businesses to build the Wolf Creek Dam and resulting in the Cumberland Lake. However, none of this hydroelectric power supplies Kentucky, but rather it goes into Tennessee. The people of Kentucky gave up so much, (altho they were paid ) to move out and be relocated. Imagine the government telling you you HAVE to move and they pay you what they felt was " market value" for your family home.

Why aren't these dams in Kentucky supplying the people of Kentucky with the power from these dams, instead of us paying premium price for cola or gas fired power plants?

When the government takes land, it's called "eminent domain," and legal.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Cumberland

Lake Cumberland is a reservoir in Clinton, Pulaski, Russell, Wayne, and Laurel, counties in Kentucky. The primary reasons for its construction were a means for flood control and the production of hydroelectric power.
Lake Cumberland was impounded from the Cumberland River by the United States Army Corps of Engineers' construction of the Wolf Creek Dam in 1952.

The lake in question is part of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). As to the power transmission, you might inquire into the customer base of the power companies in your area. It may be that the hydroelectric plant is within a different customer base.

[mark abby]

Originally Posted by jetgraphics

When the government takes land, it's called "eminent domain," and legal.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Cumberland

Lake Cumberland is a reservoir in Clinton, Pulaski, Russell, Wayne, and Laurel, counties in Kentucky. The primary reasons for its construction were a means for flood control and the production of hydroelectric power.
Lake Cumberland was impounded from the Cumberland River by the United States Army Corps of Engineers' construction of the Wolf Creek Dam in 1952.

The lake in question is part of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). As to the power transmission, you might inquire into the customer base of the power companies in your area. It may be that the hydroelectric plant is within a different customer base.

we live rather close to the dam, however, our power comes from the coal plant in Bronston. When/if the government has their way, coal will be either too expensive to use, or they will be forced to use natural gas...which is also on the government's hit list. either way, rates will increase for all.

either way, rates will be increasing, as we see happening in eastern Kentucky now, albeit for a variety of reasons, but, the rates are going to double or more.

we have this huge dam here in southern Kentucky, and i don't see why it can't power most of this state being in this state.

[mark abby]

Originally Posted by marino760

Write a shorter email and ask the question concisely without editorializing, story telling and sounding critical. Then see what happens.

i did. i asked a simple question about that and i didn't get into any details. as i looked further into this, the TVA runs the dam and it supplies power to Nashville:

"It is the largest of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District’s hydropower plants with six 45 KW generators capable of producing 270,000 KW of clean electricity.
The nine hydroelectric power plants in the Nashville District provide enough electricity to power about 287,000 homes annually. It would take about 1.4 million tons of coal to generate the same amount of electricity.

Additionally, it only takes a few minutes to put a hydroelectric unit online, versus hours for some other forms of generation.

'The Nashville District salutes our Hydropower Team who works each day to operate and oversee hydropower in Cumberland River Basin."

Industrial History: Wolf Creek Dam and 270mw Hydropower on the Cumberland River

I'm just curious as to why Kentuckians don't enjoy power from their own resources.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by mark abby

i did. i asked a simple question about that and i didn't get into any details. as i looked further into this, the TVA runs the dam and it supplies power to Nashville:

"It is the largest of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District’s hydropower plants with six 45 KW generators capable of producing 270,000 KW of clean electricity.
The nine hydroelectric power plants in the Nashville District provide enough electricity to power about 287,000 homes annually. It would take about 1.4 million tons of coal to generate the same amount of electricity.

Additionally, it only takes a few minutes to put a hydroelectric unit online, versus hours for some other forms of generation.

'The Nashville District salutes our Hydropower Team who works each day to operate and oversee hydropower in Cumberland River Basin."

Industrial History: Wolf Creek Dam and 270mw Hydropower on the Cumberland River

I'm just curious as to why Kentuckians don't enjoy power from their own resources.

There should have been far more MW generated with hydroelectric over time instead of only relying on one source to generate electricity in most of Kentucky, coal. The coal power plants have massive cleanup costs and environmental remediation as coal ash heavily contaminates drinking water supplies and aquifers wherever they are located. Most coal power plants in Kentucky are 45-60 years old and the majority will be retired in the next 7-10 years because they are very expensive and polluting to run relative to all other energy sources. As I mentioned in other threads before, utilities should be fully liable for ANY and ALL cleanup costs regarding power plants, and shouldn't be giving ratepayers the bills to pay for their stupidity.

The cities in the Ohio Valley are very thankful that far less coal is being burned as the air quality is already far better than 10-15 years ago and infinitely better than 30-40 years ago.

[Oldhag1]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

There should have been far more MW generated with hydroelectric over time instead of only relying on one source to generate electricity in most of Kentucky, coal. The coal power plants have massive cleanup costs and environmental remediation as coal ash heavily contaminates drinking water supplies and aquifers wherever they are located. Most coal power plants in Kentucky are 45-60 years old and the majority will be retired in the next 7-10 years because they are very expensive and polluting to run relative to all other energy sources. As I mentioned in other threads before, utilities should be fully liable for ANY and ALL cleanup costs regarding power plants, and shouldn't be giving ratepayers the bills to pay for their stupidity.

The cities in the Ohio Valley are very thankful that far less coal is being burned as the air quality is already far better than 10-15 years ago and infinitely better than 30-40 years ago.

I agree with this.