FYI, on Monday night, November 18, 2024 I testified in Albany in front of the New York Power Authority on behalf of the Indian Lake Association, with the support of the ILA president, Glenn VanNostrand. Our goal was to make the NYPA aware of the ILA’s interest in promoting the goal of installing hydroelectric power in our soon-to-be newly restored Indian lake Dam in the central Adirondack Park. Here is the original text of the presentation:
The Town of Indian Lake has been trying for 37 years to act against climate change by trying to institute hydropower generation on the Indian Lake dam. The most recent attempt, begun in 2006, went through the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Preliminary Permit process.
Even though it had almost universal support, the project ultimately stalled because of the opposition of Adirondack conservation organizations who believed that the dam was a part of the Forest Preserve, so that generating power would violate Article 14 of the State Constitution. However, members of the ILA located state government documents proving that the dam had never been in the modern definition of the Forest Preserve. Issues surrounding the dam were adjudicated in 1997 by the NYS Supreme Court issued a stipulation that the property on which the dam and dam keeper’s house are located is not part of the Forest Preserve.
The Regulating District operates the dam, and many other impoundments under their control, for the purpose of reducing flood risk downstate (in Albany, among other locales). They also manage these water resources in order to facilitate hydropower generation and other industrial and sanitary uses. They are very effective in this, and their work has greatly reduced the historic flooding problems that have afflicted many downriver communities to the south, east and west of the Adirondacks.
The HRBRRD does not itself generate power on any of its dams, but works with partners in doing so. The Regulating District raises its own operating funds largely from revenues from hydro generation, and this project would be a major help with that vital agency's financial difficulties. The Indian Lake dam is currently undergoing a major restoration with improvements that will make it even more suitable for hydropower and allow it to last another century.
The dam was built in 1898. It holds the headwaters of the Indian River, a major tributary of the Hudson River. According to a feasibility study done as a part of the 2006 FERC application, the dam can generate up to 5.7 million Kw-hrs per year of carbon-free electricity.
To put it another way: Since electricity came to Indian Lake in 1922, the dam has wasted almost 600 million kWHs of power, by failing to produce a single watt in all that time. That would have been enough to power 380,000 homes for a year, at today's rate of consumption.
For a hundred years local residents have shaken their heads in dismay as they watched countless trillions of gallons of water pour through the Indian Lake dam without ever being sensibly and safely exploited.
The Town’s most recent hydropower plan and its Federal Energy Regulatory Commission application also included the Town-owned Lake Abanakee dam six miles downstream, adding another 20% of energy to the total output).
A project such as this would not only be a source of great pride, but it could also prove a boon to ailing local economies. In addition to the immediate shared revenues that would accrue to the Town and the HRBRRD, it could provide the Town of Indian Lake a tremendous opportunity to create an Industrial Development zone on beautiful lakeshore property it owns near the Abanakee dam. Such a zone could conceivably provide free power in addition to other incentives, to some kind of clean IT or other modern enterprise.
Coupled with other seasonal assets, such as Gore Mountain, rafting, and traditional Adirondack outdoor recreation, this could be transformative to the entire region and result in a year-round powerhouse economy.
It is our hope that the New York Power Authority might take an interest in this highly worthwhile, slam-dunk project and help begin a dialogue with these organizations and DEC to get this moving forward again. Its time has come!!