Hydroelectric

At ODEC, we recently entered an agreement to buy the entire output of a hydroelectric project owned by Hydro FS on the Jackson River in Alleghany County, Virginia. Located at the base of the Falling Springs waterfall, the project will capture the kinetic energy of water transported a mile downhill by twin pipes. Project designers anticipate the project’s single turbine and generator to produce a reliable output of up to one megawatt of power.

Additionally, many of ODEC's member cooperatives purchase power from the South Eastern Power Administration from the John H. Kern Dam located on the Roanoke River and the Philpott Dam located on the Smith River.  These projects were built in the early 1950's and have provided low cost hydroelectric power to ODEC's members for decades.