Capreol could see small hydro electric dam

Capreol's Cedar Rapids could soon be home to a hydroelectric dam generating power for the province's electricity grid.

Meeting this week, the city's planning committee agreed to endorse plans for the Capreol-Cedar Rapids Waterpower Project. Council's backing is an important step in getting provincial approval for such projects.

In recent years, approvals have been sought for solar generation projects under the province's FIT program, which aims to promote the growth of clean energy suppliers.

Stephen Monet, the city's manager of environmental planning, said this was the first hydro project he was aware of in Sudbury under the FIT program. He said the project must meet federal environmental rules to proceed. If successful, the project would lead to a reduction in greenhouse gases because it generates power without carbon emissions.

It would generate enough electricity to “equivalent of getting about 1,000 vehicles off the road,” Monet added.

While municipalities can't approve or reject individual projects, the province's approval depends on a points system for meeting certain criteria, including getting municipal support.

The dam itself would be made up of an inflatable rubber weir that would increase water flow at certain times, and be deflated when water levels rise.

The weir would divert part of water flow through a “penstock” – a type of pipe — to a turbine, and then release water back in the river.

“No water is used, only diverted,” says a report on the project. “The penstock would be buried, the powerhouse setback and designed to be unobtrusive and integrated into the landscape.”

It would create a small head pond above the weir, just enough to cover the intake pipe. The inflatable weir can be completely deflated in less than 30 minutes to allow for release of fast rising water without risk of flooding, and allows for passage of debris, ice, sediment etc.

“It can be set to automatically adjust according to water levels and be remotely controlled,” the report said.

The area is suitable for the project because the Vermillion River has a natural drop in elevation at Cedar Rapids, meaning no extensive damming is required. The location was previously the site of a railway crossing the river, and the surrounding land isn't suitable for agricultural use, “presenting the opportunity for sustainable, responsible development,” the report said.

The company behind the plan is Water Power Group LP. More information on the group can be found at waterpowergroup.com.