The Collinsville DamBy Myles Mitera

Built in the early 1900’s, The Upper (pictured) and lower dams of Collinsville were constructed for a local axe company on the Farmington River in Collinsville, Ct.

The two Dams produced energy for the company (pictured) until its closing in 1966. For some time, the dams remained unused and vacant, Until 2013 when the Collinsville Renewable Energy Promotion Act was passed. This gave the town permission from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to refurbish the dams.

The Upper Dam has a generation capacity of 373 kilowatts, and was built before the lower dam.

The lower dam however, is capable of producing 920 kilowatts. The lower dam is unique in that its consists of two buildings. The lower dam was built after a demand for more electricity.

The wall built, would separate the river from the runoff made by the dam. The are shown in the left, acts a trench in leading water further down stream to the second building.

The second building, contains the turbines where the electricity is actually generated. The building also puts the water used back into the river. While work on the Dams have yet to begin, the town has requested proposals from developers and are in the early stages of the project.

Sources• http://www.hydroworld.com/articles/2015/05/canton-con

n-seeks-developer-for-950-kw-upper-collinsville-dam-hydro-project.html

• https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CRPT-113hrpt7/pdf/CRPT-113hrpt7.pdf