New Byrd Hydroelectric Project Could Add Clean Power to Eastern U.S. Grid by 2028
Current Hydro and Conifer Infrastructure Partners plan to start construction next year on a 28.5-MW hydroelectric power plant on the Ohio River in West Virginia.
The Robert C. Byrd Locks and Dam Hydroelectric Project would be a rare new example of hydropower interconnecting the grid. The project plans to leverage two existing and decommissioned lock chambers to locate two concrete powerhouses along a small portion of the Ohio River in Mason County.
Current Hydro’s approach adds power production to existing, critical infrastructure, reducing the new materials required and optimizing the utility of selected locks and dams. By using a smaller portion of the river flow as compared to the conventional hydropower designs, Current Hydro’s designs ensure the resource is shared responsibly with other stakeholders of the waterways.
The system, powered by six Kaplan pit turbine-generators, is expected to generate about 165,000 MWh of carbon-free energy annually, enough to power more than 15,000 homes.
“We have plans to deliver state-of-the-art hydropower production along the Ohio River, and an experienced team specializing in non-powered locks and dams to do it,” said Jeremy King, Chief Executive Officer of Current Hydro. “RC Byrd Hydroelectric Project is about more than clean energy – it’s about supporting West Virginia’s economy, creating jobs, and collaborating with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and local communities.”
The project construction is scheduled to begin in 2026, following the approval of the final license application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), filed January 23, 2025, and the permitting of the project design under the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Section 408.
The project’s run-of-release approach will maintain the current flow of the Ohio River, preserve critical river oxygen levels, and support the ecosystem of the local fish population. The project is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2028.
