MWCC Environmental Conference Osage Renewable Energy Center Warren A. Witt Director of Hydro Operations July 16, 2018
TOPICS Ø Ameren Hydroelectric Operations Ø Osage/Bagnell Dam Construction Ø FERC License Ø Environmental Initiatives Plans/programs Adopt the Shoreline LOWA 2
AMEREN HYDRO GENERATION Ø Keokuk Energy Center 15 units, 140 MW, 105 years old Ø Osage Energy Center 8 units, 250 MW, 87 years old Ø Taum Sauk Pumped Storage Energy Center 2 units, 440 MW, 55 years old Ø ~3% of Ameren generation 3
OSAGE ENERGY CENTER BASICS Ø Built in 1931 Ø 250 MW, ~700,000 MWhr/yr Ø 8 main units, 2 house units Ø 12 spill gates Ø Staff of 25 people Ø Lake: Over 1100 miles of shoreline, 93 miles long, 54,000 acres 105 feet deep Drainage basin is Springfield to just south of KC, 100 miles into Kansas 14,000 sq. mi. drainage basin (10,000 in MO) 4
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CONSTRUCTION OF BAGNELL DAM Ø In August of 1929, men and women from all over the world came to a little known place on the Osage River, just upstream of the town of Bagnell, Missouri. Ø Barely over two years later, they had completed what is now known as Bagnell Dam... and the Lake of the Ozarks was born. Ø Visit Willmore Lodge or go to the Mo. State Archives to see construction photos Ø Tourism was in the plans from the beginning 6
Construction Begins August 6, 1929
August 29, 1930 Powerhouse Begins
Lake Filling in Less Than 2 Years
FERC LICENSE Ø Original license from 1926-1976 16 pages Ø Second license from 1976-2006 30 pages Ø Third license from 2007-2047 91 pages plus half a dozen required management plans 10
FERC LICENSE Ø Balances many perspectives: Power generation, impact on river, environmental impact, recreation, history, etc. Ø Stakeholders: Ameren, FERC, individuals, DNR (water & historical), MDC, USFWS, NFS, ORFCA, recreation & tourism industry, USACE Ø The most developed FERC lake in the country 11
2007 FERC LICENSE Ø Shoreline Management Plan Ø Dissolved Oxygen Enhancement Plan Ø Erosion Monitoring and Remediation Plan Ø Lower Osage River Protection and Enhancement Plan Ø Fish Protection Plan Ø Fish Propagation and Stocking Plan Ø Recreation Enhancement Plan Ø Historic Properties Management Plan Ø Memorandum of Understanding with USACE for operation 12
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS Ø DO/TDG (Dissolved Oxygen/Total Dissolved Gas) continuous monitoring Ø Aerating turbines and automated venting system ~20% increase (120,000 MWhrs) in plant generation capability for the same water flow rates > $50 Million for upgrades ~ $25 Million in federal tax credits/incentives for upgrades Ø Fish net upstream of powerhouse Ø Spill gate operational changes Ø New minimum flow and flood ramp rate restrictions Aquatic life and erosion control measures Ø First four gas insulated step-up transformers in the Western Hemisphere 13
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ADOPT THE SHORELINE Ø Started in early 90 s by citizens, Ameren picked it up and sponsors Ø 12 zones Ø 90 organizations, 700 miles adopted Everything up to 45 mile marker now adopted Ø Spring clean-ups: 60 groups, 500 volunteers Ø Fall clean-ups: 10 groups, 130 volunteers Ø Was over 200 tons/ 2500 cu yds per year Ø Over 5.6 million pounds of trash removed so far Ø Non-encapsulated foam ban now in effect Ø 2018 Spring: 400 volunteers, 52 groups, 640 cu. yds., 39 tons 16
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LO WATERSHED ALLIANCE (LOWA) Ø Started in 2006 Ø Citizen led non-profit group Ø Focuses are: water quality, low impact landscaping (LIL s), wastewater, education and outreach, recycling, lake safety Ø Have one of the few approved watershed management plans Covers the lower 18 miles of Lake of the Ozarks 18
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Questions?