+'?ID={ItemId}&List={ListId}'); return false;}}, null); javascript:SP.UI.ModalDialog.ShowPopupDialog('{SiteUrl}'+ Exelon is seeking a 50-year license to operate the Conowingo Dam without having to comply with the pollution reductions called for by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE); in fact, over the past year, Exelon has filed a series of legal challenges to … The Conowingo Dam began operation in 1928 after two and a half years of construction and at a cost of $59 million dollars. The Conowingo dam was constructed in 1928 on the Susquehanna River and was the largest power plant that had ever been built at that time. The company agreed to pay $3.5 million for a study and resubmitted its application in 2017. In fact, Conowingo’s renewable energy production is greater than all other Maryland renewable energy sources combined. Even so, many of the people discussing the significant floods were — and still are — unclear about how dams work, what dam operators do and how we keep safety at the forefront. In 2016, Exelon entered into a settlement agreement with the U.S. As a part of Maryland’s vital energy infrastructure, the Conowingo Dam provides $273 million in economic benefits every year, which includes supporting 265 full-time equivalent jobs, paying $10 million in annual state and local taxes, and attracting 365,000 recreational visits annually. These funds will be used to address key issues facing the Bay, including upstream debris, fish and eel passage, nutrient reduction, mussel restoration and resiliency initiatives. '/_layouts/15/docsetsend.aspx' The issues churning around the Conowingo Dam are as murky as the muck in the bottom of the reservoir behind it, but we will have you out of the mud before we reach the end of this article. The medium-height, masonry gravity dam is one of the largest non-federal hydroelectric dams in the U.S. +'?ID={ItemId}&List={ListId}'); return false;} if(pageid == 'audit') {STSNavigate(unescape(decodeURI('{SiteUrl}'))+ - Full Transcript of Hearing conducted on December 5, 2017 Conowingo Hydroelectric Project - Public Comment Period Extended to January 15, 2018. The devastation the Conowingo Dam will cause to the economy of Maryland from a significant flood event is in the billions. It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Learn what Exelon Generation is doing to manage debris in the Susquehanna River. A team of experts from Exelon PowerLabs went to the Conowingo Dam in Maryland to scan the inside of the hydroelectric power plant to map out this famous structure using 3-D laser scanning technology. Conowingo Dam: A Maryland Icon for Almost 100 Years Located on the lower Susquehanna River in northern Maryland, the Conowingo Dam has served as Maryland’s largest source of clean energy for more than 90 years. That's why in October 2019, the State of Maryland and Exelon Generation reached a historic agreement that will help protect the Chesapeake Bay for decades to come. The settlement agreement provides insufficient funds to deal with the risks that Conowingo operations pose to the Susquehanna River and Chesapeake Bay. Deploying crews to operate overhead cranes and grapple devices; Launching debris skimmer boats to assist with clean up; Sponsoring two major annual events: the Lower Susquehanna Heritage River Sweep and Conowingo Pond clean-up day, where we remove 600 tons of debris and refuse from the river each year; Supporting other groups also focused on Bay clean-up, as with our $25,000 donation in 2018 to the Chesapeake Bay Trust to support local debris clean-up efforts after a severe flooding event. Although Exelon Generation voluntarily removes debris from the river, it is not possible to remove all debris flowing toward the dam from the upstream watershed. These gates weigh in excess of 45 tons. We don’t give these things much thought, until they aren’t available. One of the biggest threats to the health of the Chesapeake Bay is upstream runoff that brings sediment and nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorous into the river, which flows into and can harm the Bay. Exelon Generation uses a variety of tools and resources to help remove the debris safely and efficiently, including: Through these efforts, we removed more than 4,000 tons of debris in 2018 alone. Learn more about today’s Conowingo Dam. For 90 years, the Conowingo Dam has been Maryland’s largest source of reliable and renewable energy. Ls3g+EG+t3w3zeqyj7+wf0Kqo4J8zWCyNEenmMvFLRudHvL7j+hGi2r2EnvYYmYXpzOwh4j4RPy/QwKwQJCqWkban5oqfpVM8ipzAp2qmrMtjOrjqMnrxePph0pwPOD/LbJXKtChaRjIYAxzv7cOuJID7ryj5/aatSmj9rUKDQI=. Learn how Exelon continually manages flood risk and the bay environment in this brief video. Deena O’Brien, with Exelon, said one highly-anticipated event is the opportunity to get a free behind-the-scenes tour of the Conowingo Dam, which was built in 1928. A new administration could result in new leadership and direction for the Chesapeake Bay Program leading to advancements in the long-term solution to the pollution build-up behind the Conowingo Dam. of Interior also includes significant investments in fish passage improvements at the dam and the creation or re-introduction of a trap-and-transport program to transport fish from Conowingo Dam to north of the York Haven Dam. other biomasses. Our agreement with the Dept. PJM is our power grid operator and it gauges energy supply and customer demand, giving us notice about how much power is needed. In October 2019, the State of Maryland and Exelon Generation also reached a historic agreement that will help protect the Chesapeake Bay for decades to come. When the Conowingo Dam was built in 1928, it was the next largest hydro-electric dam in the country, second only to the one at Niagara Falls. The Conowingo Dam is a large hydroelectric dam in the lower Susquehanna River near the town of Conowingo, Maryland. Learn more about the facts on dredging and sediment in the Conowingo Reservoir. As a major tourist site in eastern Maryland, the Conowingo Dam and recreation area contribute to Cecil and Harford Counties’ $21.7 million in tax revenue from tourism in 2018. Exelon Cannot be Trusted to Operate the Conowingo Dam! community clean up events to remove debris Exelon and the county building department approved the concept and JGM was able to cut the project schedule down to just eight weeks. A lot of the debris that gets into the river eventually reaches the dam and our operators work hard all year long to remove it. '/_layouts/15/Reporting.aspx' These recreational activities include bird-watching, picnics, photography and more. Maryland, and funnel down to the Conowingo Dam. + '?List={ListId}&ID={ItemId}'). removed on average by dam operators annually, Conowingo Dam: Its Bright FutureConowingo Dam: The Facts on Dredging and SedimentConowingo Dam: Debris ManagementConowingo Dam: A Maryland Icon for Almost 100 Years, VJ0BcvjCWQVa8r+kxr19uUFvHjFfxG8Gd4ozXiO13OKQivMoTO0VrXDcc2C2bTilk6RogFcHLwzRCFBUYnAxeaXICd2h2Px7nPB09pv1k1lQP+5BeSD3wQcVXdCjTBPQ1y3L2HnQzLzJmbfgiQRDKZIOXf68f/IDQ9fHLH03fbU=. The Conowingo Pond, located behind the Dam, is vital to the water supply for several communities, serving as a back-up water supply source for both the City of Baltimore and the Chester Water Authority. blocked from entering the Chesapeake Bay during If granted by FERC, this new license would be great news for the dam, the residents of Maryland and the health of the Chesapeake Bay. This is especially true during flood conditions, as seen during the summer of 2018 when the Susquehanna River swelled to 10 times its normal level. In the Conowingo case, Exelon originally applied for a water quality certification in 2014 but withdrew it after state officials said they didn’t have enough information on the water quality impacts of the dam. Learn more about the future of the Conowingo Dam. We love being able to … We worked with Exelon Maintenance, Conowingo Dam Operations, county officials, and the Maryland DOT to develop and implement a plan that had minimum impact on the community. Located on the lower Susquehanna River in northern Maryland, the Conowingo Dam has served as Maryland’s largest source of clean energy for more than 90 years. Read more about that agreement. Governor Hogan Announces Landmark Agreement with Exelon on Conowingo Dam Proposed settlement to provide more than $200 million toward Chesapeake Bay restoration and environmental projects ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan today announced a comprehensive agreement between the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) and … Tours last about 45 minutes to an hour, O’Brien said. Check out the new debris boom that was just installed at Glen Cove Marina by Exelon Generation and the Conowingo Dam. '/_layouts/15/hold.aspx' In addition to powering homes and businesses, the Conowingo Dam produces economic and environmental benefits for both the state and local communities throughout the region. for residents across the State of Maryland. Moreover, 300 American Bald Eagles gather at the Conowingo Dam annually by Thanksgiving, which serves as a major breeding, nesting, and foraging ground. Roberts island donation to the Chesapeake National Historic Trust, conducted or funded to improve undersatanding of the Chesapeake Bay watershed ecology. '/_layouts/15/DocSetVersions.aspx' Once the debris reaches the Conowingo Dam, it is Conowingo Hydroelectric Generating Station and Muddy Run Pumped Storage Facility provide more than 1,600 megawatts of low-carbon power generation, as well as much needed load-leveling and … ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan today announced a comprehensive agreement between the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) and Exelon Generation Company, LLC, which requires Exelon to invest more than $200 million in environmental projects and operational enhancements to improve water quality in the Lower Susquehanna River and … A mature bald eagle carries off a fish snatched from the tailrace of the Conowingo Dam. Conowingo Dam tour slated for Sept. 21-22. It is nearly a mile long and 104 feet tall. 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