06-08-2006, 02:55 PM
Thursday, June 08, 2006 Officials seeking construction bids for Jordanelle Dam building [url "javascript: void(0);"] PDF [/url] [url "javascript:void(0)"] | Print | [/url] [url "javascript: void(0);"] E-mail [/url]
CALEB WARNOCK - Daily Herald
Contractors wanted.
Gearing up to begin construction this fall, local water officials are seeking contractors to bid on building a $15.5 million hydroelectric facility on the toe of Jordanelle Dam.
In order to be considered for the job, contractors must apply to be prequalified, said David Pitcher of the Central Utah Water Conservancy District. The applications are due Friday at the district's Orem office.
Contracts will be awarded in August, he said. Construction will begin in September and open for electricity production in May 2008. Construction costs are expected to be about $9 million.
District officials already have awarded a $5 million purchase contract to VA Tech Hydro of Canada for turbines and other large equipment, Pitcher said.
"We had to select the big equipment in order to design and build around it," he said.
Though the district has advertised for contractors throughout the Intermountain West, it appears that most of the companies requesting information about the project are from Utah, though that could change by the Friday deadline, Pitcher said.
"We want a qualified pool of contractors who are experienced in doing this kind of work so the job is done successfully," he said.
Jordanelle Reservoir will not be emptied for the construction, but work will happen in winter when water levels are lowest, Pitcher said. Because outlets for a hydroelectric project were installed in the dam when it was built, the dam will not have to be taken down or reconstructed.
Completed in 1993, a hydroelectric plant on Jordanelle Dam has been delayed while seeking permission for the project from representatives of the federal government, which owns most of the water behind the dam, said Chris Finlinson of the Central Utah Water Conservancy District.
Normally electricity generated on federal projects belongs to the federal government, so water officials had to get special permission to sell the power from the dam to Heber Light & Power, she said.
Two turbines will be installed with a total capacity to generate enough electricity to provide power to 30,000 people or 8,000 homes.
"We're just taking advantage and using a resource that we have," she said.
All power from the project will be sold to Heber Power & Light, Pitcher said.
"We've been waiting a long time for this," Heber City Mayor Lynn Adams has said. "The community has wanted a hydro facility at the base of that dam since before it was built."
"This project is important to produce electricity for a growing demand and it is a clean power source," Pitcher said. "It is not going to change the operation of the dam."
Contractors may obtain an information packet explaining prequalification requirements from the Central Utah Water Conservancy District offices at 355 W. University Pkwy. in Orem or by calling 226-7125 or visiting www.cuwcd.com.
Caleb Warnock can be reached at 443-3263 or [url "mailto:cwarnock@heraldextra.com."]cwarnock@heraldextra.com.[/url] This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page C2.
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CALEB WARNOCK - Daily Herald
Contractors wanted.
Gearing up to begin construction this fall, local water officials are seeking contractors to bid on building a $15.5 million hydroelectric facility on the toe of Jordanelle Dam.
In order to be considered for the job, contractors must apply to be prequalified, said David Pitcher of the Central Utah Water Conservancy District. The applications are due Friday at the district's Orem office.
Contracts will be awarded in August, he said. Construction will begin in September and open for electricity production in May 2008. Construction costs are expected to be about $9 million.
District officials already have awarded a $5 million purchase contract to VA Tech Hydro of Canada for turbines and other large equipment, Pitcher said.
"We had to select the big equipment in order to design and build around it," he said.
Though the district has advertised for contractors throughout the Intermountain West, it appears that most of the companies requesting information about the project are from Utah, though that could change by the Friday deadline, Pitcher said.
"We want a qualified pool of contractors who are experienced in doing this kind of work so the job is done successfully," he said.
Jordanelle Reservoir will not be emptied for the construction, but work will happen in winter when water levels are lowest, Pitcher said. Because outlets for a hydroelectric project were installed in the dam when it was built, the dam will not have to be taken down or reconstructed.
Completed in 1993, a hydroelectric plant on Jordanelle Dam has been delayed while seeking permission for the project from representatives of the federal government, which owns most of the water behind the dam, said Chris Finlinson of the Central Utah Water Conservancy District.
Normally electricity generated on federal projects belongs to the federal government, so water officials had to get special permission to sell the power from the dam to Heber Light & Power, she said.
Two turbines will be installed with a total capacity to generate enough electricity to provide power to 30,000 people or 8,000 homes.
"We're just taking advantage and using a resource that we have," she said.
All power from the project will be sold to Heber Power & Light, Pitcher said.
"We've been waiting a long time for this," Heber City Mayor Lynn Adams has said. "The community has wanted a hydro facility at the base of that dam since before it was built."
"This project is important to produce electricity for a growing demand and it is a clean power source," Pitcher said. "It is not going to change the operation of the dam."
Contractors may obtain an information packet explaining prequalification requirements from the Central Utah Water Conservancy District offices at 355 W. University Pkwy. in Orem or by calling 226-7125 or visiting www.cuwcd.com.
Caleb Warnock can be reached at 443-3263 or [url "mailto:cwarnock@heraldextra.com."]cwarnock@heraldextra.com.[/url] This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page C2.
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