Powell Lake Generating Station (Powell River, British Columbia)

Canada / British Columbia / Powell River / Powell River, British Columbia
 invisible, hydroelectric power station
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Since 2001 Brookfield Renewable Power, a leading producer and developer of renewable energy, manages and operates the Powell Lake and Lois Lake hydroelectric generating stations in Powell River. These operations, collectively known as Powell River Energy Operations, were previously co-owned with Catalyst Paper Corporation.

Completed in 1912, the Powell Lake dam and generating station have an installed capacity of 46 MW. The five generating units are located in three power houses within the Catalyst Paper mill site, and are connected to the dam by four steel penstocks.

Powell Lake once spilled over a spectacular 36-metre/119-foot waterfall and through the very short Powell River (it was once called the shortest river in the world). Early industrialists saw the attractiveness of this water power and the abundance of nearby timber, and by 1912 had opened the first newsprint mill in western Canada. The Powell River Company used this water power to generate electricity (installing five turbine generators between 1912 and 1926) and to run its original two grinding rooms, whose banks of pulpwood grinders were directly powered by four 3000-hp turbines. Later grinders were all electric powered.
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Coordinates:   49°52'26"N   124°33'22"W

Comments

  • My grandfather, Jasper Mallory Daniels, homestead on the land flooded by BC Hydro forming Lake Powell. I have been told the chimney of his place is still disable at times of low water. The Daniels River was named after him and Lois Lake after my Aunt Lois Daniels. Jasper's daughter, Wilma, turns 95 in Feb 2019. Jasper's son, Allen Farrell (born Jasper Mallory Daniels) was the famous wooden ship builder. Jasper Sr died BC Hydro and won....later moving to Vancouver where he became a cartographer. Jasper died on Pender Island. BC in the 1950's.
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