Avista's Noxon Rapids Dam upgrades underway, massive Unit 3 turbine removed

Oftentimes a hydro dam looks like a block of earth and cement, just holding back water. Not much happening, right? Well, peel back the layers and youll find an incredibly high-tech operation that is constantly in motion.

As Avistas largest single generation facility, the Noxon Rapids Dam in Montana is an impressive structure that has been in operation more than 50 years. But just like your house, after 50 years, its due for some upgrades.

One of the upgrades currently underway is the replacement of the turbine runner for Unit 3 in the dam. The dams five units are capable of producing as much as 548 megawatts of clean, renewable electricity. Unit 3 generates about 100 megawatts of electricity by itself.

On Wednesday, Oct. 28 Communications Manager Dan Kolbet was at the dam and produced a video about the removal of the turbine runner the massive section of the unit that is spun by water.

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Education

Tags:

• Avista Utilities
• Hydro Power
• Renewable Energy
• Clark Fork River
• Electricity
• Capital Project