QIPS ?????

This is so damned funny, I can't resist posting it. You can read the whole article on the link above, but I'm going to take pieces out cause there so damned funny.

The Quincy City Council is considering a plan to build three hydroelectric power plants on the Mississippi River.
The council's Finance Committee agreed Monday to recommend the council seek federal permits to build hydroelectric plants at Lock and Dam 20 at Canton, Mo., Lock and Dam 21 at Quincy and Lock and Dam 22 at Saverton, Mo.

In recent years, an Ohio power company has held the permits for most of the locks and dams on the upper Mississippi River. However, the company did not take any action to move forward with any hydroelectric plants, and the permits lapsed.

Hint #1: If somebody already looked at it and didn't take any action......WHY ???

Quincy officials feel it would be in the city's best interests to seek permits for the three dams closest to Quincy. The application fee would total $15,000 for all three locations. If the permits are granted, the city would then spend an additional $45,000 to update a feasibility study conducted in 1983 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

$60,000 spent and we're just LOOKING at it ???? Who gets this money ??? Next paragraph>

The original feasibility study showed that many of the locks and dams on the upper Mississippi — including all three in this area — have favorable capabilities for producing hydropower, according to Mike Klingner, who heads the Quincy-based Klingner & Associates engineering firm.

Ching Ching !!!

Several factors could make this an attractive opportunity for the city. For one thing, federal legislation signed last year will require power companies by the year 2012 to buy at least 8 percent of their power from so-called "green energy" sources, which are comprised of any renewable, non-polluting energy source, such as wind energy, solar energy or hydroelectric energy.
That means power companies will be looking for new sources of energy, including any hydroelectric plants that begin operating in coming years. "The demand is definitely going to be there," Klingner said.
If Quincy were to build and operate the three hydroelectric plants — or even if it ultimately decides to take on just one such project — the city would be able to use some of the generated power to meet the electrical needs of, say, the city's wastewater treatment facility. Then it could sell the surplus electricity to a local power company, such as AmerenCIPS or Adams Electric Cooperative.

Hint #2: Who runs the city wastewater plant ??? Not the city, they couldn't efficently run it. How do we expect them to run a power plant ???


That means, for example, that if one 15-megawatt plant were to be built, it would cost between $22.5 million to $30 million. If three plants that size were built, the total cost would be $67.5 million to $90 million.

...and what's the payback on $90 million investment ????

In addition, the city would face about $300,000 in engineering costs plus $150,000 for an environmental impact assessment for each location — just to prepare a draft license application. More engineering fees would come for final plans and permits.

....and I would guess that Klingners would be the one for the studies ???? Ching Ching !!!!


Pete Pohlman, a GREDF spokesman, said conditions appear to be right for a city such as Quincy to take on such a project. "We think it's a natural for the city," he said.

Just like "natural" disaster.......

Mayor John Spring also likes the idea. "It has great potential," he said.

...so did the Titanic.....