The City of Carlsbad will develop a hydroelectric power project at Maerkle Reservoir as part of a comprehensive effort to promote energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The project will generate enough power to offset more than the entire energy consumption of the Carlsbad Municipal Water District and will pay for itself in seven years. The Carlsbad Municipal Water District authorized staff April 14 to solicit bids for the design of the hydroelectric project.
The project would include installing a series of turbines along a pipeline that delivers water from the San Diego County Water Authority aqueduct to the Maerkle Reservoir in northeastern Carlsbad. High-pressure water from the pipeline will be routed through the turbines, generating electricity.
The city began identifying potential renewable energy projects in response to new state legislation calling for reductions in greenhouse gases. Over the past year, city staff has worked with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, University of San Diego's Energy Policy Initiatives Center and the California Center for Sustainable Energy in developing the hydroelectric project.
Installing turbines at three locations along the pipeline will cost $1.25 million. The hydroelectric turbines will generate about 2 million kilowatt hours of electricity per year, or 125 percent of the Carlsbad Municipal Water District's annual consumption of electricity.
The project will generate $240,000 worth of electricity per year, along with potential renewable energy and carbon credits. In six to seven years, the project will be paid off, and the anticipated life of the equipment is 20 years, meaning the project could generate approximately $3 million for the city over its lifespan. In addition, clean energy will be provided to taxpayers at no direct cost.
The project is anticipated to be complete in 2011, following the design, bid and building process. It is part of a larger city goal to provide all of the energy needed for city-owned facilities through renewable sources.
The project will generate enough power to offset more than the entire energy consumption of the Carlsbad Municipal Water District and will pay for itself in seven years. The Carlsbad Municipal Water District authorized staff April 14 to solicit bids for the design of the hydroelectric project.
The project would include installing a series of turbines along a pipeline that delivers water from the San Diego County Water Authority aqueduct to the Maerkle Reservoir in northeastern Carlsbad. High-pressure water from the pipeline will be routed through the turbines, generating electricity.
The city began identifying potential renewable energy projects in response to new state legislation calling for reductions in greenhouse gases. Over the past year, city staff has worked with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, University of San Diego's Energy Policy Initiatives Center and the California Center for Sustainable Energy in developing the hydroelectric project.
Installing turbines at three locations along the pipeline will cost $1.25 million. The hydroelectric turbines will generate about 2 million kilowatt hours of electricity per year, or 125 percent of the Carlsbad Municipal Water District's annual consumption of electricity.
The project will generate $240,000 worth of electricity per year, along with potential renewable energy and carbon credits. In six to seven years, the project will be paid off, and the anticipated life of the equipment is 20 years, meaning the project could generate approximately $3 million for the city over its lifespan. In addition, clean energy will be provided to taxpayers at no direct cost.
The project is anticipated to be complete in 2011, following the design, bid and building process. It is part of a larger city goal to provide all of the energy needed for city-owned facilities through renewable sources.