90.3 at 9: Dam Show

Tuesday, September 6, 2005 RSS  Short URL  Share

An Akron-based company has made a proposal to build a small 2.5MW hydroelectric plant on the existing 1916 Edison Gorge dam on the Cuyahoga River in the middle of a Metropark between Cuyahoga Falls and Akron. The president of the start-up company that wants to build the plant says it will provide green energy that will reduce CO2 emissions and add to the power grid. But the Ohio EPA, Department of Natural Resources, Metroparks employees and environmental groups like Friends of the Crooked River and the Cuyahoga River RAP all say the project further threatens water quality, as well as nine endangered plant species in the park. In the meantime, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has begun the approval process for the project which could take three years to complete. We'll discuss the proposal Tuesday morning on 90.3 at 9. See Also: Hydro-Electric Plant Proposed for Summit County Metropark (July 21, 2005)

Additional Information

Friends of Metro Parks

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Search for Docket Number P-12484, select "hydro" and define dates of search for past year

International Rivers Network: About Rivers and Dams

International Hydropower Association