Story Archives of 'Dams'

Tidal Power, hydroelectricity, geothermal energy and landfill gas: energy pioneers are exploring many new ways to create electricity. They’re looking at harnessing the power of our rivers and dams, our ocean tides, the heat deep below the earth and the methane breakdown in huge trash dumps. We'll look at new fuels that could possibly feed New Hampshire’s grid in the future and old ways that are getting a second look.

Guest

• John Rogers, senior energy analyst for the Clean Energy Program for the Union Concerned Scientists

We'll also hear from

• Ken Baldwin, professor of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering and Director for the Center of Ocean Engineering at the University of New Hampshire; he was also the co-chair of the New Hampshire Tidal Energy Commission and co-edited the report on tidal energy possibilities in the state
• Mark Weisflog, owner of KW Management in Nashua that installs geothermal heating units
• Paul Chamberlin, Assistant Vice President for Energy and Campus Development at the University of New Hampshire who oversaw UNH's Landfill Gas Pipeline Project, ECOline
• Bob Gundersen, Hydro manager for PSNH, which operates the Smith Hydroelectric Plant in Berlin

A polluted pond in Manchester that was violating federal clean water laws – just got a new breathe of life this week.

Manchester city leaders and state environmental officials removed the Maxwell Pond dam on Black Brook, a tributary of the Merrimack River.

By doing so, the pond will no longer be on the state’s list of impaired waters.

New Hampshire Public Radio’s Amy Quinton reports.

An independent evaluation of what caused the major floods of 2006 and 2007 is now underway.
The first public meeting outlining the scope of that project was held Wednesday night in Concord.

As New Hampshire Public Radio’s Amy Quinton reports, the report will examine why flooding was so severe and if dam operations can be improved.

Across New Hampshire, state officials have cited more than 100 public and private dams as needing repair.

Some are in worse shape than others.

But the worst, and there are about 20 of them, are in such a bad state that the owners have been warned to repair the dam ....or remove it.

The Black Brook Dam in Manchester is on that hit list.

And if city officials don't take action, Manchester could face stiff penalties.

NHPR Correspondent Debra Daigle reports.

Throughout the flooding that hit the state, officials were keeping a close watch on dams. The single largest evacuation took place in Bristol when a dam on the Newfound River -- that was already in the process of being removed -- began to hold water again. NHPR's Mark Bevis spoke to Jim Gallagher, the chief engineer for the dam bureau. Gallagher says the effort to dismantle unsafe dams on the river has accelerated.