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Email PageWhile it is true that the legal and societal obstacles facing new dam construction are prohibitive, there are ample opportunities to take advantage of existing impoundment sites in Michigan. Michigan has over 2000 dams, with approximately 100 currently producing power. Not all of these dams are capable of electric power production, but approximately 109 of these dams are retired hydroelectric or mechanical water power dams, with significant production capacity. Power produced at these dams could be a reliable source of baseload generation in Michigan.
The Idaho National Laboratory, a project of the U.S. Department of Energy, estimates there is 370.4 megawatts of modeled potential (484.4 MW nameplate) hydroelectric energy from the state's undeveloped conventional hydropower sites. These figures are for presently impounded sites, that either currently produce no electricity or are not realizing the full production potential of their site. 1
Development of these resources will take serious commitment, both financial and otherwise. Environmental and recreation impacts would have to be balanced with the benefits of an expanded renewable energy portfolio and a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions. Opportunities exist for stakeholder cooperation that could lead to both increased power production and increased environmental protection and river restoration. Adjustments to State and Federal regulation may be needed to ease the development of these hydroelectric resources.