New hydropower facility to be built on Ohio River will supply electricity to Allegheny County

PITTSBURGH — Allegheny County entered into a 35-year power purchase agreement with Rye Development after a new hydropower generating facility is set to be built on the Ohio River.

The 17.8 MW low-impact hydropower facility will be built at the existing Emsworth Main Channel Dam on the Ohio River across from Neville Island. Construction is set to start later this year with the plant being operational as early as mid-2023.

County leaders said emissions equivalent to over 3,400 households will be offset for each year the purchase agreement is in place. They said in a news release that the region’s rivers “made hydropower a smart choice.” The project will have minimal environmental impact and will likely be able to generate power for over 80 years.

Here is a map showing where the new facility will be built:

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Cox Media Group