A 12-YEAR-OLD PLAN to produce hydro power at Arrow-rock dam, north of Boise, has been re-energised by a deal with a Californian utility to buy the electricity. The decision whether to build the plant will be based on a feasibility study that is expected to be completed in about two months.
Power will only be developed when water is released for irrigation, and it is estimated that the project could generate 30MW and cost about US$50M to complete.
The plan is to construct the hydro plant at the same time as the US Bureau of Reclamation is replacing 85-year-old valves in the dam. The federal repair project is to begin later this year and is expected to be completed in 2004.
