Overview
McClure Dam is an 8 MW hydroelectric power plant in Michigan, United States, operated by Upper Peninsula Power Company. It generates renewable electricity from hydropower.
McClure Dam is a hydroelectric power plant located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, United States. With a capacity of 8 MW, it is a small-scale facility within the U.S. hydropower sector, contributing to the region's renewable energy portfolio. The plant is owned and operated by Upper Peninsula Power Company, a local utility serving the area. The facility operates under the regulatory framework of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), which oversees non-federal hydropower projects in the United States. As a run-of-river or storage-based hydro plant, it utilizes the flow of the nearby river to generate electricity without significant fuel consumption or emissions. The technology typically involves turbines driven by water flow, with minimal operational complexity compared to thermal plants. McClure Dam plays a role in providing clean, renewable energy to the local grid, supporting Michigan's goals for renewable energy integration. Its small capacity makes it suitable for distributed generation, reducing transmission losses and enhancing grid resilience in the Upper Peninsula. The plant's operation aligns with state and federal policies promoting low-carbon power generation.
Environmental context
As a hydroelectric facility, McClure Dam has a low carbon footprint compared to fossil fuel plants, but its environmental impact includes potential alterations to local aquatic ecosystems and water flow regimes. The dam's operation may affect fish migration and sediment transport in the river. However, its small capacity limits the scale of such impacts. The surrounding region features forested landscapes and cold-water streams, typical of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, where hydropower contributes to the state's renewable energy mix.
Frequently asked questions
McClure Dam is located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, United States, at coordinates 46.571700 N, -87.476400 W.
McClure Dam has a capacity of 8 megawatts (MW), making it a small-scale hydroelectric facility.
McClure Dam is owned and operated by Upper Peninsula Power Company, a utility serving the Upper Peninsula region of Michigan.
As a U.S. hydroelectric plant, McClure Dam is regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), which oversees licensing and environmental compliance for non-federal hydropower projects.
Hydroelectric power generates electricity without direct emissions of CO2, SOx, or NOx, contributing to lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuel plants. However, it can affect local aquatic ecosystems and water flow.