Work on the Swift Creek Hydroelectric Project is gearing down for the winter season.  With the installation of the penstock and dam reconstruction at the upper reservoir all that remains is turbine installation later this winter.

Excavation contractors will be done by the end of the week.

Reconstruction of the old  hydro electric project in Swift Creek Canyon east of Afton is a cooperative effort between the Town of Afton and Lower Valley Energy.

Afton and LV&E have entered into an agreement that will allow the cooperative to own and operate the facilities for 15 years. At the end of the time period Afton will join LV&E as a 50 percent owner. The town coordinated the federal licensing procedure in preparation for the working agreement between municipality and cooperative.

With the arrival of October, Bill Spaulding, LV&E Director of Electrical Operations, reports penstock installation, along with upper reservoir and power plant preparation is on schedule.  All of the penstock work is complete with the exception of the connections at the reservoir dam and power plant.

Final work on the housing structure for the power plant should be completed by the third week of October.
In the meantime, the penstock installation and dam refurbishment at the Upper Reservoir will also be concluded.

The power plant building has been designed to accommodate installation of the turbine when the new equipment is  installed.

The manufacturer has notified Lower Valley Energy the turbine will be delayed for two to three  months.
Spaulding commended the LV&E crews and contractors  for having the penstock, reservoir and power plant work complete in preparation for turbine installation.

LV&E personnel will work with turbine manufacture crews on installation later this winter.
Due to the extreme water pressure involved with power generation measurements need to be exact with turbine installation in order to avoid vibrations.

The Lower Swift Creek hydro system, which also includes a power plant and reservoir, will be completed in the summer of 2009 with power generation expected from the lower plant in the fall.

The Swift Creek facilities will be used to generate green power, similar to the power  which comes from Lower Valley Energy Strawberry Canyon facilities east of Bedford.