[All] GRCA News: OSSGA supports hydro facility at Park Hill Dam

Tue Oct 2 14:16:06 EDT 2012

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Janet Baine <jbaine at grandriver.ca>
To: 
Sent: Tuesday, October 2, 2012 12:55:08 PM
Subject: GRCA News: OSSGA supports hydro facility at Park Hill Dam

Grand River Conservation Authority
GRCA NEWS

Oct. 2, 2012
Release on receipt

OSSGA supports hydro facility at Park Hill Dam

An innovative partnership with the Grand River Conservation Foundation and the Ontario Stone, Sand and Gravel Association will help a new hydro facility planned at the Park Hill Dam in Galt.
The project is in the planning phase and is expected to cost between $7 and $8 million to build. It will double the GRCA’s hydro production capacity. 
The Grand River Conservation Authority already operates three hydro generating facilities — at Shand Dam, Conestogo Dam and Guelph Dam. During the summer when water flows are low, the new Park Hill hydro facility will produce about 600 kwh of power, about the same as the existing Shand Dam site. But in the spring when there is far more water passing by the dam, it will produce about 1.2 megawatts of power. This is enough electricity for about 575 homes.
The GRCA began investigating this project a few years ago. Although it is costly, the hydro project is being propelled forward thanks to support from the Grand River Conservation Foundation, which has solicited the support of the aggregate industry. The GRCA is also applying for a 40 year power purchase agreement from the Ontario Power Authorities  Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) program.  Funding of $200,000 may also be available through the Community Energy Partnership Program for a portion of the Environmental Assessment study costs.
“The industry sees real value in creating green solutions to put more resources into the conservation stream. This project will create perpetual funding for the work that the GRCA does,” said Moreen Miller, CEO of OSSGA.
Already the Ontario Sand Stone and Gravel Association (OSSGA) and its member companies have raised more than $200,000 during the first months of their five-year commitment to this project. The OSSGA agreed to match the first $20,000 raised each year. Member companies of the association have already contributed $185,000, so the total is $205,000. In addition, they are holding a fundraising Gala dinner at the Cambridge Mill restaurant on Oct. 18, with funds going to this project. The dinner is the first in a series of fundraising events that they have planned. 
“We think it is fabulous that an entire industry has come to the table so generously to support this project,” said Sara Wilbur, director of the Grand River Conservation Foundation. The foundation is the GRCA’s charitable partner, supporting projects which have few or no other sources of public funding. “Members of the OSSGA have been generous supporters of GRCF for years, and this new project will be a model for other projects of this kind throughout the province. The project is also going to be a showpiece for everyone in Cambridge to see.”
About the dam
The Park Hill Dam is located in downtown Cambridge (Galt). It is one of 31 operating dams owned by GRCA. Originally built in 1837 to create a mill pond, the Park Hill Dam is a “run of the river” dam, where water flows across its surface. It was identified as a strong candidate for the installation of a hydro generating station at the west end of the dam. It has the potential to generate an estimated $920,000 annually in revenue.
Once the loan to construct the dam has been paid off, the funds from hydro generation will go towards a range of conservation projects, such as tree planting, outdoor education, land acquisition and habitat restoration. 
Oct. 18 Best Dam Gala
The Best Dam Gala will take place at the Cambridge Mill restaurant in downtown Galt at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 18. Funds raised through this event will go to support this new hydro project at the Parkhill Dam. The restaurant has a beautiful view overlooking the dam site and the evening includes entertainment. This is one of several events planned by OSSGA to support this project. Tickets are available for online purchase at www.ossga.com under “Events” or contact Sara Wilbur at swilbur at grandriver.ca or 519-621-2763 x 2272 for ticket information.

Photo from Left: Moreen Miller, Malcolm Matheson,Ruth Prior, Dan O’Hara, Sara Wilbur and Tony Iacocca stand in front of the dam.
Please email jbaine at grandriver.ca if you would like this image.

-30-

Further information:
Dave Schultz, Manager of Communications 
Phone 519-621-2763 x2273  |  |  E-mail dschultz at grandriver.ca

Janet Baine, BA, MA
Communications Specialist 
Grand River Conservation Authority
400 Clyde Road
Cambridge, Ontario  N1R 5W6
www.grandriver.ca
519-621 2763 x 2302

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