RALEIGH -- Falls Lake could soon generate more than just drinking water and fishing holes.
The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to inform the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission of Raleigh's plans to build a hydroelectric facility at Falls Lake Dam. Last year, FERC awarded the city a preliminary permit to conduct studies and prepare a license application for such a facility.
The move is one of several steps Raleigh has taken recently toward greener power. Officials plan to turn the roof of the Raleigh Convention Center into an urban solar farm, generating an estimated 750,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per year. Also, Raleigh's commitment to LED lights in city-owned buildings reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 1,286 tons per year.
Falls Lake is a flood-control reservoir maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers that also provides drinking water for Raleigh and several other Wake County communities.
In 2009, the council voted to seek a permit from FERC, which irked a private firm also interested in the project.
At the time, the head of Community Hydro, a Vermont company, accused the city of blocking its efforts. Lori Barg, Community Hydro's president, asked the federal commission to deny the city's request to file a competing permit application.
City Manager Russell Allen said then that the city only wanted to see whether hydroelectric power was feasible on Falls Lake.
Hydroelectric power makes up a tiny fraction of North Carolina's energy use.
But it is growing in importance as energy companies work to meet a state mandate to increase the amount of electricity from renewable resources.
Council members Tuesday also instructed the city's staff to search for a consultant for the project. That would include final evaluation and possible environmental and regulatory permitting, design and construction services.
The consultant would help the city develop funding options for design and construction of the hydroelectric facility, according to a city news release.
