Underground power plant studies required

OGDENSBURG — Numerous environmental and power transmission studies will determine whether a proposed underground power plant capable of generating up to 1,000 megawatts of electricity is viable here.

Riverbank Power Corp. of Toronto filed an application Monday with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for a preliminary permit to conduct the various studies over three years. Those studies, expected to cost up to $2 million, include geologic, ecological, engineering, power transmission, environmental and economics.

The pumped-storage power project, which could cost an estimated $2 billion, could generate up to 100 permanent jobs, along with employment for about 600 construction workers. Details of the overall project were outlined in the 20-page FERC filing.

"This is the first step in the FERC application process," said William S. Helmer, an attorney for Green & Seifter, Albany, representing Riverbank. "We need to assess the feasibility of the project."

Similar Riverbank Power projects also have been eyed for Wiscasset, Maine, and Sparta, N.J., town officials said Tuesday night.

The plant, named Aquabank, would generate power during the day using water from the St. Lawrence River when electricity demand is highest, then pump the water back into the river at night when power demand is low.

The project calls for water to be diverted from the St. Lawrence into four 13-foot-diameter shafts that reach a depth of about 2,000 feet. The water then feeds into an underground power station containing four large turbines to produce electricity. The power is transmitted to the power grid for distribution.

The water will be stored temporarily in five massive underground reservoirs during the day until it is pumped back into the river at night. Electricity from other sources will be needed to return the water to the river. The underground reservoirs could hold about 1.23 billion gallons of water.

An electrical substation, which would occupy five to 10 acres, would be constructed on the surface.

Riverbank recently secured a three-year option to buy Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority land for the proposed project.

"This project has the potential to significantly increase jobs and direct investment in the regional economy," OBPA Executive Director Wade A. Davis said. "It can also make an important innovation that can help us solve our energy needs. The authority fully supports Riverbank's assessment efforts for the feasibility of the Ogdensburg pumped storage project."

Riverbank has estimated it could divert about 215 cubic meters per second of water from the river. The water levels of the St. Lawrence could be affected by the plant's diversion, an especially sensitive topic as the International Joint Commission prepares to select a new water level regulating plan. The IJC hasn't yet announced its plan.

Riverbank Power filed four interconnection applications in February for projects — two in St. Lawrence County and one each in Niagara, Rockland and Queens counties — through the New York Independent System Operator.

The NYISO is the nonprofit gatekeeper for allowing new power producers on the state's grid. The agency will review the interconnection request to determine what infrastructure upgrades will be necessary to get the power safely on the grid.

The NYISO Web site lists all four projects in the "feasibility study in progress" stage, with each project capable of generating up to 1,000 megawatts. The projects all could be producing electricity beginning in June 2014, pending feasibility study results and federal, state and local permits.

Riverbank wants to construct an 18.6-mile power transmission line from its project site to Madrid along the OBPA-owned New York & Ogdensburg Railroad line, federal documents show. The 345-Kv line would connect with the New York Power Authority's 765-Kv line in Madrid.

The rail line has about 100 feet of easement, more than enough to accommodate the power line, Mr. Davis said.

The primary investor backing the venture is BlackRock of New York City, an investment management firm. The company has assets totaling about $1.36 trillion, according to its Web site.

Riverbank Power President and Chief Executive Officer John C. Douglas didn't return a call for comment Tuesday.