Purpose

To show how available

building lots can leverage

renewable power from the dam

to promote:

1. New Business

Development

Attract new business

development opportunities to

the area.

3. Value-Added

Development to Support

Existing Local

Agricultural Businesses

Allow for the development of

value-added opportunities for

existing agricultural industries.

2. Alternative Energy

Technology Research and

Development

Attract federal, state or other

research and development

funding opportunities

Hydrogen Fuel Production Facility

• Generate hydrogen fuel with renewable hydroelectricity instead of

natural gas or other fossil fuels.

• Modeled after the proposed hydrogen fuel production facility on the

Chubb River in Lake Placid, New York.

• Potential to save thousands of dollars on gasoline and employ Croghan

residents to maintain both the H2 production and hydropower facilities.

Flywheels: Federal R & D $$

Available for Energy Storage Technology

A flywheel is essentially a generator in reverse; a steel rotating disc with

magnets on its edge spins on magnetic bearings within a vacuum. The

reduced friction allows for the flywheel to efficiently store energy and

quickly recharge.

• Good system with intermittent power sources (hydro) or industry

demand (i.e. day time vs. nighttime operations): Flywheel bank will

equalize power output between higher and lower flow rates.

Maple Syrup Facility

Lewis County maple farmers are currently largest maple producers in

NYS, yet enormous untapped resources & potential for increased revenue

with use of renewable energy/ energy efficient production options.

Example: Reverse osmosis technology powered by hydroelectricity.

• Electric system cuts process down to ~1/5 of traditional energy inputs

• Hydro electric allows for product to remain sustainable/inexpensive

• Opportunity for cooperative = several producers or one large scale

operator = equipment cost sharing

• More economically feasible to tap more trees & produce more syrup.

Results Provide some specific examples in each of the three general

development scenarios:

Acknowledgements

A special thanks to Glen Gagnier, Arnie Talgo, Erik Virkler, Jon Martin and Lewis Country Development

Corporation. “To the magic of doing things the old way and forging ahead with the past in mind.”

Saving the Croghan Dam: A Site Development Strategy for Revitalizing Hydro Infrastructure Michael Petroni, Hannah James, W. Cameron West, Peter Papayanakos, Jonathan Williams, George Flynn, Jonathan Eppolito, Alexander Duane, Erin Milette,

Dr. Amanda Lavigne.

Environmental Studies Department, Saint Lawrence University

Conclusions • Potential for social, economic, and

environmental benefits all rely, first the

dam being saved from the DEC’s proposed

removal and, second utilizing hydroelectric

power on site.

• All provide state-of the art development

through energy efficient technology.

• Provide economic benefit to the Croghan

area.

• Could be used as a baseline for other small

dams in the state/country.

• Potential for growth & sustainable

evolution; investing in this site could be a

monumental step for the rural areas of New

York State and the country as a whole.

NYS DEC Dam Inventory shows enormous potential for

revitalizing NYS dam infrastructure and increasing

renewable energy capacity without building new dams.

(www.dec.ny.gov) Reverse Osmosis Technology:

Photo from Vermont Pure Maple

Syrup

Add -On Turbine Darrieus Type : Does not Require Significant Civil

Works, Less Efficient , Less Costly

In-Dam System VA Tech Ecobulb 500kW : Most Expensive, Most

Output (Gomez & Sullivan, 2006)

Traditional Water Wheel/ Penstock Produces 75 HP of Mechanical Energy at Croghan

Island Mill

ASSESSMENT BASELINE =

Rebuild Dam + Install Hydropower

Abstract As finding cleaner, domestic energy sources becomes more important,

some argue we need look no further than the 1000+ small overflow

dams sitting at the heart of towns and villages throughout the

Adirondack region.

This study encompasses an analysis of potential development

strategies and scenarios for small overflow dams, using the Croghan

Dam, in Croghan, NY as a case study.

After a period of initial research, it was determined that finding funding

to simply rebuild these dams was not a likely scenario, therefore:

• A more holistic approach was adopted, refocusing attention on a

more broadly-defined development strategy, highlighting the

economic potential of the entire dam “site”.

• Deemphasizes the actual dam reconstruction and focuses on

facilitating, wherein dam reconstruction offers the unique

opportunity to incorporate “free”, “green” power and electricity

generated into all business development models.

Methods 1. The SLU Energy & Environment class taught by Dr. Amanda Lavigne traveled to Croghan in September 2010 to assess the dam site.

2. Met with Glen Gagnier, former mayor of Croghan and member of the Lewis County Development Committee (LCDC): a grass roots

organization working to save dam from scheduled removal by DEC & Croghan Island Mill from closure due to the loss of free hydropower.

3. Worked with LCDC on project highlighting recommendations for possible development options following repair of dam.

4. Through meetings with member of the LCDC, the SLU students created a three scenario development model.

5. Study was presented to the Croghan community and local officials on December 7, 2010 at the Croghan Maple Syrup Museum.

Croghan Island and Dam on The Beaver River

Croghan, New York

In Need of Repair, South and North Runs of Croghan Dam Pictures from North Country Public Radio’s Online Slideshow and Coverage of the SLU Presentation: northcountrypublicradio.org/news/slideshows/croghandam

Renewable energy powered

electrolysis splits H2O into

hydrogen & oxygen gas, emitting

only water vapor.

1

2

5

ASSESSMENT SCENARIOS =

Highlight Economic Potential of Dam Site

• Job opportunities

• Regional energy

resiliency /

independence

• CO2 emissions,

PM, acidification

• Value-added

/stabilization for

existing markets

• Business

development

opportunities

Outcomes

Visit us at: lewiscountyny.org/content/Generic/View/114 or Search Facebook/Croghan Dam Restoration Initiative for Local Business and Renewable Energy