Dakota County Newsletter - Fall/Winter 2024 - Powering Up

Powering Up

County to generate more energy than it uses after Byllesby Dam upgrade and energy efficiency projects 10 COUNTY SERVICES RECOGNIZED

Dakota County is using water and sunlight to generate more electricity and save taxpayer dollars.

The county finished a $46-million expansion of Byllesby Dam, a 115-year-old hydroelectric dam on the Cannon River near Lake Byllesby Regional Park. This fall, we will also complete new solar power projects and other energy upgrades.

These improvements are good for county energy use and production. By doubling the electricity generated at the dam and going solar at more buildings, we anticipate generating more than twice as much electricity than we use.

The county’s energy production will be from renewable sources — more than any other county produces in Minnesota.

Byllesby upgrades

The dam is responsible for a majority of the county’s renewable energy, but it didn’t always generate this much.

The dam and powerhouse, which contains turbines and generators that convert water flow to electricity, were built in 1909. Original turbines produced 2.2 megawatts of electricity a year. That’s enough to power a city the size of Cannon Falls.

After a century in operation, the equipment was well past its prime. The county worked with state and federal partners to secure funding to boost the dam’s efficiency for years to come. A new powerhouse was built to modern efficiency and safety standards. It contains two vertical turbines, generators, controls and workspace for county employees who monitor the dam.

The new turbines will produce an estimated 4.4 megawatts of electricity — double the original equipment. That power will be transferred to a regional power grid. The county will sell that electricity on the open market by negotiating with utility providers buying renewable energy.

Revenue from energy sales will be used to pay back the county’s $9 million cost to upgrade the dam and cover ongoing operation costs. No property tax dollars were used for the dam upgrade. County funds in the project were from environmental fees collected at landfills in the county.

Solar enhancements

Solar energy is also helping to generate renewable electricity. We’re installing ground-level solar panels outside the Administration Center in Hastings. This will offset all the electricity used in that building.

We’re adding solar panel carports in three parking lots. The panels are at least 12 feet above the ground, allowing vehicles to safely park beneath them.

Solar carport projects include:

• Robert Trail Library and Rosemount License Center. Nearly all building electricity use will be offset by the solar installation.

• Northern Service Center in West St. Paul. Solar energy will offset nearly 10 percent of this large building’s electricity use.

• Western Service Center and Galaxie Library in Apple Valley. The solar carport will generate the equivalent of 60 percent of Galaxie Library’s electricity use.

The county already generates solar energy elsewhere. Energy from rooftop solar panels at Empire Maintenance Facility offsets about two-thirds of the electricity used there.

We’re reducing our energy use as well. We’re replacing 14,000 light fixtures in 18 county buildings with LED bulbs. That will reduce overall electricity consumption by 10 percent. Also, we're making heating and cooling modifications at the Northern and Western service centers to reduce energy costs.

These energy projects cost about $8.4 million. We’re using $7.6 million in federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds and another $500,000 in state funds. The remaining $300,000 is property tax funds, but we will reduce ongoing energy expenses by more than that each year. That will save taxpayer dollars in the long run.

Byllesby Dam funding

Federal ARP funds ............... $26 million State bonds ..............................$12 million Non-levy county funds.......... $9 million Total cost ......................... $47 million Energy efficiency upgrades

Energy efficiency upgrades

Federal ARP funds .............. $7.6 million

State funds .......................... $500,000

County funds ....................... $300,000

Total cost ........................ $8.4 million