American Municipal Power

AMP executive management discuss issues related to the organization and the industry.

AMP Hydro Projects Stimulate Economy

By Marc S. Gerken

February 16th, 2010

The worst economic crisis since the Great Depression in the 1930’s has resulted in over 8 million jobs lost over the past two years. Among those facing the brunt of layoffs are workers in the construction industry. Despite the dreary economic outlook, AMP’s new run-of-the-river hydroelectric projects are providing welcome relief to not only construction workers, but also the municipalities located nearby.

Last summer we broke ground on the first of five planned hydroelectric plants to be built on existing dams on the Ohio River. The Cannelton Hydroelectric Plant, near Hawesville, Kentucky, will create 200-400 construction jobs for up to four years and 9-12 permanent operator positions once on-line. At an approximate cost of $407 million, the plant will provide 84-megawatts (MW) of renewable generation to the region.

This year we are planning to begin construction on at least two more hydro projects, with each project adding up to 400 jobs over the next three to four years and around 10 permanent jobs thereafter. The first project, at the Smithland Locks and Dam near Smithland, Kentucky, will be an economic boost to a town challenged by layoffs from local quarries. The Smithland Hydroelectric Plant will generate 76 MW and construction is slated to start this spring. Also on the horizon this year is the project at the Captain Anthony Meldahl Locks and Dam in Bracken County, Kentucky, which will have a capacity of 105 MW.

Our projects are also having a ripple effect on the hydroelectric manufacturing industry. Voith Hydro will open a manufacturing facility in Hannibal, Ohio to manufacture stators for the generators for our hydro projects, creating 40 new jobs in the process. Voith Hydro President/CEO Mark Garner said that his company has seen a 27 percent growth in permanent employees in the last two years, proving that the hydropower industry continues to grow despite a week economy.

Additionally, the bids for excavation/cofferdams has resulted in awards (or pending awards) to two Ohio firms: CJ Mahan Construction Company of Grove City for Smithland and The Ruhlin Company (served by Wadsworth Electric and Communications) for Willow Island. Additionally, the contract for cranes for each project will be awarded to Morgan Engineering from Alliance, Ohio.

In addition to benefiting our participating members, our hydro projects will give an economic shot in the arm for neighboring communities and the hydro industry; helping to stem the tide of job losses by providing hundreds of green jobs in support of clean renewable energy.

Welcome to AMP’s New Website

By Marc S. Gerken

September 21st, 2009

Some of you may be visiting this site for the first time, seeking more information on American Municipal Power. Others may have clicked on as existing link in their browser, expecting to enter the AMP-Ohio Web site, and been surprised at ending up here.

Our new identity—simply American Municipal Power or AMP, instead of American Municipal Power-Ohio—was the logical next step to all the changes that have been occurring in this organization during the past several years. The old name no longer accurately reflected the geographic territory represented by our membership. As one example, driving from the western-most AMP member community to those furthest east would take more than 14 hours. More than a third of our member communities now lie outside the state of Ohio.

Our Board of Trustees recognized that the addition of more than 40 new member communities since 2000—bringing the total to 128 at present—would require a change in focus. Working with consultants, the board approved the new name and a new logo that incorporates AMP’s relationship with its member communities as “Public Power Partners.”

This new “brand” recognizes our expanded territory and the equal standing of all member communities, but provides continuity through the organizational history associated with the AMP abbreviation.

This growth is also reflected in the organization’s governance. AMP is currently governed by a 16-member Board of Trustees, with eight member communities elected to represent individual service groups and the other eight elected at large. That changes in October, when elections are held at the annual general membership meeting. Any state outside Ohio that contains at least five member communities—at present, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Virginia—is now designated a state service group, entitled to a seat on the board.

One final change was needed to meet the demands place on the organization by continued growth. In late July, AMP moved from its previous headquarters to a new location in northern Columbus. The new building at 1111 Schrock Road has more than three times the space of the previous one, eliminating deficiencies in several key areas and providing room for any foreseeable future needs.

Taken together, these add up to a lot of changes since the year began. But they provide only part of the story. In the coming days, I intend to talk more about the generation projects we’ve undertaken to provide a diverse portfolio of energy sources designed to meet the needs of member communities and their electric customers.