Bedford Hydropower Project facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bedford Hydropower Project |
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 Location of Bedford Hydropower Project in Virginia
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| Location | Bedford County, Virginia / Amherst County, Virginia, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 37°34′24.85″N 79°22′17.53″W / 37.5735694°N 79.3715361°W |
| Purpose | Hydroelectric, Recreation, Fish and Wildlife Pond |
| Status | In use |
| Owner(s) | Town of Bedford, Virginia |
| Operator(s) | Town of Bedford, Virginia |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Concrete gravity |
| Impounds | James River |
| Height | 19.6 ft (6.0 m) |
| Power station | |
| Operator(s) | Town of Bedford, Virginia |
| Turbines | 2 |
| Installed capacity | 4.5 MW |
| Annual generation | 12,284.7 MWH (2018) |
| FERC Number: 5596 | |
The Bedford Hydropower Project is a special place on the James River in Virginia. It's a facility that uses the power of moving water to create electricity. This project is located near the community of Big Island, Virginia.
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What is the Bedford Hydropower Project?
The Bedford Hydropower Project includes a low dam that stretches all the way across the James River. This dam helps to guide the river's flow. Part of the river's water goes into a concrete canal. This canal then leads to the building where electricity is made. The rest of the water continues along the river's natural path.
Where is it Located?
The dam and the power plant are found in Bedford County, Virginia and Amherst County, Virginia. They are about one mile downstream from another, larger dam called the Cushaw Hydroelectric Project. The address for the project is 7443 Elon Road (Virginia Route 130), Big Island, Virginia. This dam is actually the middle one of three dams close together on the river. The Big Island Dam is located a few miles further downstream.
How Does it Work?
The project has a canal that runs along the left side of the river. This canal leads to the power plant building. There's also a natural river bypass that goes around the low dam. This setup allows the river to keep flowing while some of its water is used to make power. The plant has two turbines that help generate up to 4.5 megawatts of electricity. In 2018, it produced over 12,000 megawatt-hours of power!
What Else is There?
Besides making electricity, the Bedford Hydropower Project also offers other benefits. There's a public fishing area located upstream from where the canal starts. This is a great spot for people to enjoy fishing. A special path for canoes, called a portage, is also available. This helps people safely move their canoes around the dam. The project also helps with recreation and supports fish and wildlife in the area.
Who Runs the Project?
The Town of Bedford, Virginia owns and operates the Bedford Hydropower Project. Town staff are on site for at least two hours every day, seven days a week. The plant is also watched over remotely using computers. If anything unusual happens, an automatic call system alerts the Town's staff right away. This helps make sure the plant runs smoothly and safely.
