Kentucky energy providers complete facility upgrade

Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company recently announced the completion of a facility renovation effort that will generate clean energy through the Ohio River.

Company officials said the finalization of upgrades to the Ohio Falls Hydroelectric Generating Station in Louisville clears the way for the second century of energy generation.

“We are especially proud of Ohio Falls, which was a modern marvel when first constructed in the 1920s,” Lonnie Bellar, LG&E and KU Chief Operating Officer, said. “Now, thanks to this renovation, we’re able to marry the past with the future, and the same units that used renewable energy to power Louisville in 1927 will continue to benefit our customers for decades to come.”

The scope of work involved efforts to enhance equipment, software and safety measures in 2005. The plant’s eight generating units were also overhauled, with each taking more than a year to complete.

The plant still depends on the Ohio River’s water level to provide the right conditions to generate power, officials said. The water flows through updated trash bars, which prevent large pieces of debris, such as trees, stumps, and large trash, from going into the units and causing damage.

The water then falls over the turbine blades, rotating the turbine in conjunction with a shaft connected to the generator, which produces electricity. The unaltered water flows out and continues down river.

The plant was designated as a landmark within the Falls of the Ohio National Wildlife Conservation Area in 1982.