By JESSICA SIEFF
Niles Daily Star

It was in September 2008 that the Niles Dam (known previously as the Pucker Street Power House) commanded the attention of many, when the earth supporting one of its retaining walls gave way following heavy rains, resulting in the evacuation of nearly 50 residences.

But the dam was already under a few selective watchful eyes as a possible power source.
The interest in green power has only grown in the last year in every aspect from wind to solar power and hydroelectricity.

Now, the city prepares to hear findings later this month from the consulting firm of Klein Schmidt about two local dams, at Pucker Street and the French Paper Co. owned dam on the St. Joseph River regarding what kind of future each have when it comes to being harnessed to produce electricity.
“What you’re looking to do, is to make money … generate the electricity at a lower cost,” City Administrator Terry Eull said Tuesday.

The city has a few options to choose from should they decide to move forward and turn the dam into a power source. Those options, Eull said, include assuming outright ownership of the project, selling the dam to an outside party or enter into a partnership with a private investor.

The electricity would offset costs for the city, allowing for revenue to be directed to other expenses like police or fire.

The question that will face city officials is whether or not the investment is worth it.

In the case of the Niles Dam, the site might prove valuable to a producer such as Indiana Michigan Power, which is where the city gets its electricity from now.

Eull explained that regulations forthcoming will require increases in the use of renewable energy sources.

“Producers have to change the way they produce,” he said.

Examining the viability of either dam is a proactive measure on behalf of the city. Eull added that such sites are being re-examined all across the country.

“I’m told there are a lot of renewed interests in dams like this around the country,” he said.

The dam at Pucker Street is not prepared to begin producing electricity.

“Someone would have to come in and get it functioning again,” Eull said.

Taking that into account, selling the site or entering into a private partnership might prove to be the better of the options available to officials.

More information is needed, Eull said, to make a sound decision on the Niles Dam – the first step of which will be the Committee of the Whole meeting Monday, Nov. 23.

Eventually the decision would come down to an official council vote.
Either way, Eull said, “it can be done.”

The process, however, could take up to four years before officials would see any electricity generated from the dam.

“There would be a whole lot of wheels that would start turning slowly,” he said.

And savings passed on to residents of the city are still questionable. Though Eull said there would likely be some cost benefit at the resident level – just how much remains to be seen.

The situation with the French Paper Dam is slightly different, as that dam is currently operational, licensed and owned by the French Paper Co. Eull said that if the dam were to be used as a power source it would likely be through a partnership between the company and the city.

“They said they’d be willing to talk with us,” he said.

The issue seems to be one that he thinks is worth the time, the effort and the study. And it is also one about which he seems to think people will feel the same.

“I think a lot of people want to support green power,” he said.

Admittedly, however, the city administrator added that more research would be needed on the “feasibility” of both projects.