How do you feel about putting power generators in the Illinois River near Tahlequah? STIR would like to have your opinion after reading this article and others to come about the proposed project.
POWER GENERATION IN THE ILLINOIS RIVER AT TAHLEQUAH?
The Tahlequah City Council heard a presentation Monday, April 7 on an electric power generating facility proposed for the Illinois River. No immediate action was taken by the council after council member Keith Baker and University of Oklahoma professor Dr. Reza Saeed Kandezy (by internet connection) broadly outlined plans for a series of "vortex generators" located in the Illinois River East of Tahlequah.
The presentation, called "Tahlequah Hydropower Clustered Vortex Generators" suggested "two to four modular units with 120 to 180 kilowatts" in the river fed by an off stream reservoir of water. No details of the reservoir were presented.
Tahlequah Mayor Suzanne Meyers thanked councilman Baker for bringing the matter to the council and recommended a follow-up meeting on the proposal.
The electric power from the generators would be delivered to the Tahlequah Public Works Authority to power homes in the city. Currently, the TPWA purchases power from the Grand River Dam Authority, GRDA.
Little time for questions was allowed at the meeting but one audience member questioned how the generators could be placed in the river and operated without upsetting the ecology of the river.
The presentation by Dr. Kandezy assured viewers that protection of the river would be an important factor in construction and operation and that fish and wildlife would not be endangered by the project.
Save the Illinois River (STIR) members were present at the meeting and are awaiting more details of the proposed project, estimated to cost over one-million dollars. However, initial reaction was one of unanswered questions and specific details of how the river might be impacted.
The proposed project is located in the designated Oklahoma Scenic River. Adjoining property, Riverside Park, is owned by the City of Tahlequah and by private owners.
The Oklahoma Scenic River Act specifies that the Illinois River cannot be dammed without special consideration.
A representative of the TPWA did not speak at the meeting regarding the proposed project.
