Five Channels & Loud Hydros

Five Channels and Loud Hydros. . , Michigan's Future: Powered by Renewable Energy , A century ago, Consumers Energy pioneered renewable energy with a string of hydroelectric plants along Michigan rivers. Today, many of those hydro plants continue to operate, and are being joined by a new generation of renewable energy sources, primarily wind power. There also are plans to tap the renewable energy potential of biomass, landfill gas and solar, A Beginning: Hydroelectric Power , Electric power was pioneered in Michigan along its idyllic rivers, and today Consumers Energy continues to operate 13 hydroelectric plants along five waterways. The hydros were built between 1906 and 1935 and have a combined generating capacity of approximately 130 megawatts, enough to serve more than 55,000 people. Near the hydros are campgrounds, boat launches, picnic spots and other recreational facilities They are popular spots for canoeing and fishing, and many visitors also enjoy bird watching and exploring the nearby nature trails., Inset photo (Top left): Typical construction methods involved blocking off the main river channel, where the power plant was to be constructed and diverting the river's flow around the site where the dam later would be completed. In this August 1912 photo, although it appears much remains to be done, the Five Channels plant was only four months away from entering operation., Inset photo (left): Because transportation was very limited in the northern wilderness, small towns sprang up at each site to house and serve the hundreds of workers who were needed for the job. The white-hatted man in the modern motor car likely was an important manager at the site., Inset photo (top right): Like Cooke Hydro, Five Channels used Allis-Chalmers Francis-type horizontal turbines, shown here during installation., Inset photo (right): At Loud Hydro, vertical towers like the one shown here, housed pile drivers powered by steam engines to drive pilings deep into the earth for stability.