Rochester Gas and Electric re-waters Genesee hydroelectric station 5

American energy company Rochester Gas and Electric, a subsidiary of Iberdrola USA, has re-watered its hydroelectric generation Station 5 located on the Genesee River to resume electricity generation at the plant.

The company had undertaken renovate works at the hydroelectric station located at the Lower Falls in 2007 at a reported costs of $111m.

Scope of the works covered the Station 5 powerhouse and the Middle Falls dam & head gates in the Genesee Gorge in Rochester, New York and halting power generation as a consequence.

Rebuilding a 2,000ft power tunnel system, that runs 140ft under the Genesee River, is central to the five-year modernization project at the plant.

The hydroelectric station with an installed capacity of 46MW can produce enough clean energy to power over 30,000 homes in the region.

The company plans to officially re-commission Station 5 in the second quarter of 2013.

RG&E and NYSEG president Mark Lynch noted that the company, along with Iberdrola USA, is committed to investing in sustainable energy.

"That’s why we’re rebuilding this century-old station to provide our customers with green, renewable power for years to come," added Lynch.

Iberdrola USA has targeted an investment of $1.4bn for infrastructure improvements in New York during the term of the current rate plans for NYSEG and RG&E.