Coon Rapids Dam

Project Overview
Coon Rapids Dam is a proposed 7.2 MW hydroelectric redevelopment project located on the Mississippi River in the counties of Hennepin and Anoka, Minnesota. Dahlen, Berg & Co. is re-developing the dam for the owner, Three Rivers Park District. Once redevelopment is completed, output from the dam will be sold to a local utility. Dahlen, Berg & Co., acting on behalf of the Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (MMPA), is overseeing the plant's licensing, planning, development and construction. On October 18, 2002 the FERC issued a preliminary permit to MMPA to re-develop the Coon Rapids Dam. The plant is expected to begin operation in 2008.

The proposed project consists of:

• An existing 260 foot long, 30 foot high dam.
• An existing impoundment having a surface area of 600 acres with negligible storage and a normal water surface elevation of 830.1 feet NGVD.
• A proposed powerhouse containing 2 generating units having a total installed capacity of 7.2 MW.
• A proposed 600 foot long, 4.16 kV underground transmission line.
• Expected annual generation of 41.3 GWh.

MMPA
The Minnesota Municipal Power Agency was founded in 1992 for the purpose of securing an adequate, economical, and reliable supply of electricity for its members. In addition to Chaska, MMPA members include the cities of Anoka, Arlington, Brownton, Le Sueur, North St. Paul, Olivia, and Winthrop. In addition, the cities of Shakopee and East Grand Forks are served as MMPA customers. The plant will help meet the growing demand of MMPA customers for electricity, benefiting all member cities. MMPA utilities serve almost 40,000 retail customers.