Published: March 06, 2009 12:18 am      

Panel takes second look at water power

For years, officials have wondered whether the water at Somerset County’s Quemahoning Reservoir could serve as an environmentally friendly power source.

But the idea of a hydroelectric plant never has come to fruition.

On Thursday, though, Cambria Somerset Authority members agreed to take a fresh look at the concept on a larger scale that possibly could lead to hydroelectric turbines at reservoirs in Cambria County as well.

“We need to do this. We need to generate some revenue,” said Jim Greco, the authority’s board chairman.

“And this is a positive thing,” he added. “It’s ‘green’ energy.”

Greco said the authority last year asked for bids on a project that, theoretically, could install hydroelectric operations at the Que as well as at Wilmore, Hinckston Run and Border dams.

All of those facilities are owned by the authority.

Officials received interest from a few companies. But then the economy slid quickly toward recession.

“That’s when everything started falling apart,” Greco said.

“They couldn’t get any credit to pursue it.”

Officials decided Thursday to engage in new talks with one of those companies.

And there’s a new twist. Greco believes the authority may be able to partner in the project and obtain financing, freeing cash to push the venture forward.

He said previous studies show that the hydro idea is financially viable and could provide about $80,000 in profit annually.

“It’s a very positive cash-flow project,” Greco said.

But nothing will happen quickly.

First, officials will have to come up with a design.

Greco estimates that six to nine months could pass before the authority could apply for a permit from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

– a process that is necessary because the system would be selling power into the electrical grid.

No financing would be available until a permit is in hand, Greco said.

“It’s a long process,” he said.

But officials say they have nothing to lose by looking into the proposal.

“I think it’s worth pursuing,” said

Jim Marker, a Somerset County commissioner and an authority board member.