The Corps first became involved
in hydropower in 1909. Since then, it has become the nation's largest
producer of hydropower, developing more than 70 hydroelectric plants
capable of generating almost 20 million kilowatts a year.
The Vicksburg District first became involved in
hydroelectric generation in 1950 with the construction of Narrows
Dam on Lake Greeson in Arkansas. It was the fifth Corps power plant
in the nation, and started with only two generating units. A third
unit was added later. Blakely Mountain Dam on Lake Ouachita became
the second district power plant in 1956, and DeGray Dam became the
third in 1972. In recent years, the three plants have produced up
to 360 million kilowatt hours of electricity, enough to supply the
needs of almost 40,000 homes. The power produced represents about
577,000 barrels of oil or 144,000 tons of coal.
The Vicksburg District acts only as a source
of electric power, not a distributor. Any power surplus to the needs
of the project is marketed by the U.S. Department of Energy, Southwest
Power Administration.. Narrows' electricity is sold to Southwestern
Electric Power Company. DeGray and Blakely furnish power to Entergy
Corporation. Power companies usually hold the lakes in reserve to
supplement other electricity sources during peak use periods.
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