Here is a letter to the editor of the Niles Daily Star, who chose to endorse the concept of never-before seen or used kinetic turbines for the sale of the Pucker Street Dam to Falling Waters, LLC out of South Bend, Indiana.
After researching the firm, its credentials, its clients, its former probations and fines from the Indiana Attorney General, and the style of kinetic top-water turbine power proposed, we conclude that there will be zero benefit to the city beyond its $100,000 price tag. We also are sketpical that this site would actually become the first power source of its kind in the United States with so little fanfare and such meager power capacity.
The only gain we see thus far is that a 2 person firm will get some property, try and glean 7.9 million in grants. They will only created private revenues and no electrical benefit or tax revenues given to Niles.
Thanks!
Another round of RFPs (Request for Proposal) is being issued by the cityand will be distributed to Parties wishing to propose options and bid for the Pucker Street Dam.
Occasionally, agencies are bound by requirements to have at least 2 bidders for fairness and equity. There is currently 1 bidder. Falling Waters, LLC. The other 2 bidders, per my last interview, have all but removed themselves due to the current condition and future potential of the dam site.
The volunteers here will be getting a copy of the RFP from Niles City Administrator Terry Eull---- to hear the requirements, due dates, and details; and we will share them with you---assuming this is a FOIA protected thing. If for some reason it cant be publicly shared, we will abide by those terms, but will always keep a fresh update available.
Trout Unlimited, American Rivers, and the Friends of the St. Joe River will also be getting a copy so they may consider our proposal that they undergo a purchase/cooperative partnership to make a move on the site.
More to follow..........
We've gotten some commentary from folks that live in Niles that goes something like this:
" Hey, the chance to make free hydro-power and not involve taxpayer dollars is good. Good for the general society. Why would you want to remove and shut down everything?" I don't want to start seeing my taxes go up--- because of a dam removal"
Whether the dam is sold ---or removed, Niles residents will see little or zero change to their taxes. The money do do both of these things comes from grant sources; one source for builders, and the other for dam removers.
If the dam is sold to Falling Waters, LLC and they start making power, Niles gets NONE. This will simply be a real estate deal for the city. Understand, your taxes wont change, and there will be no impact to your electric bill from this transaction.
Aesthetically; There will be a long, drawn-out construction process. There could also be a blockade of access to visitors. Normal Stuff.
Now if you believe in harnessing hydro-power in general, as a good use of a resource that goes back centuries; we hear ya; and we agree with you, too!!!
Traditional Hydro-Dams that are productive and functioning and safe are great. Great for residents, great for business. Environmentalists are even appeased when cleanup plans, fish ladders, and strict adherence to water quality rules have to be followed.
But--- understand that the 2 companies the city invited to bid have on traditional hydro-power sytems have withdrawn immediately after getting the real details on the site.
The big, behemoth power companies in the midwest who sell power on a large scale, have dams already (like AEP has on the St. Joe river and sells to Niles)---they would have snapped this up years ago if it was worth it at all.
Dams don't last forever. This one is like so many in the US that are falling apart, creating liability, and degrading the quality of rivers just by being there. This dam cannot be brought back to life to provide traditional hydro-power. There are no actively participating owners who are monitoring safety or water quality.
Niles is a city with BIG budget problems, like a lot of municipalities. They would have certainly been smart enough to get it on-line again if the payoff was worth it. They hired an environmental engineering firm to find out. They said "dont do it" This is not a cash cow for anyone. I have seen nothing by Falling Waters LLC except that they'd like to do 'this', and hope to get 'that.' But no credentials, no evidence, plans, schematics, photos. Nothing.
Bottom Line?: If you want to see something good come out of this dam issue with a sale to a hydro company, you should be wondering about some things you havent seen or heard.
If you just want to see a land deal go through and a shift of liability, then who cares.
If you'd like to see the river restored and improved for recreation, safety, tourism, land values, and cleaner higher quality water, then look at other towns who did something to make it happen.
And yet, the Niles Daily Star editorialized that they back this new, never proven, small new company mystery-hydro option. While I applaud people embracing new and unique technology, we haven't seen anything at any meetings they have presented at.
An opinion/editorial like that; which reaches out to 20,000 subscribers--without any facts or investigation should be suspect. (Just my opinion.)
Thanks!
The Southwest Michigan Planning Commission
...can help the city coordinate a Dam Removal Study complete with details, costs, time-lines, and specifics to dam owners facing the issue of whether to do it---or not. It is custom built for each site, so that unique considerations are factored into each project. Dam removal is their specialty and expertise.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has a division in Chicago, IL that handles these studies, has done several recently in Indiana and Michigan, and then assists in assigning a project manager's role. One person in particular, Len Kring, is heavily involved in the Michiana area, and is extremely excited and willing to help; but they need to get involved and requested by the dam owner.
A project manager is the person who gets a project like a dam removal done. They are the hub; the main funnel point for all players involved. They coordinate and obtain grant money, meet and update the stake-holders, inspections, permits, etc. Its a paid position, and grants will also pay the expenses for this role --so the dam owner doesn't have to.
Speaking of Grants, DID YOU KNOW there's one federal grant called GLFR that is especially for the great lakes and their tributary systems. Its a very robust allotment of funds. Just this ONE grant pays 63% of the total cost of dam removal and restoration. That includes all the clean up, the project manager; anything and everything related to the project.....Regardless of how much it costs! Thats just one grant from the Federal Level.
After the federal money is given, then there is access to the various state, regional, and philanthropic organizations that the project manager obtains.
The funds are available.
Don't believe me?
Ask the mayor of Watervliet how much it cost the tax-payers.
...Or Stronach.
....Or Glass Creek.
...Or Romeo
...Or Charlotte
....etc., etc.
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