2 days ago
Rockford hydroelectric project aims to power five homes with clean energy
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — A Rockford-based company wants to harness the Rock River to produce energy to power homes.
Latitude Power of Rockford partnered with design firm Studio GWA to create a pilot project that would use hydroelectric generators to create enough clean energy to supply electricity to five homes.
'Essentially, it takes wasted energy that's either flowing over a dam, or anywhere water is falling,' said Jared Cacciatore, Latitude Power co-founder.
Rockford's Fordam dam will soon become the pilot program's test site, where a micro hydroelectric generator will be installed.
'We can take that water, that which is potential energy, and turn it into mechanical energy through a turbine and a generator, and then turn that into, you know, electrical energy,' Cacciatore said.
Latitude Power received state funding through Illinois' Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) to help develop the project.
'The company here won a nearly $1 million grant to produce hydroelectric power and uses the Rock River to generate electricity, which is a great concept. The Rock River has been a huge asset for this area, so it seems to be the next step in using this asset to generate clean power and provide electricity throughout the area,' said Sen. Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford).
Latitude has already done smaller-scale testing, but moving to the Rock River means new challenges.
'It performs pretty, pretty well at the wastewater plant. But this is a new environment. It's a new, you know, there are new challenges. Will it will it be safe from vandalism? Will we be safe from other things we haven't thought of?' Cacciatore said.
The company hopes the pilot project will generate enough electricity to power five homes. If successful, it plans to scale up from there.
'We want to help to help Rockford become a beacon of clean energy, a beacon of collaborative community involvement and advocacy for each other and for for the community and for the the greater good for the planet,' Cacciatore said.
Once the grant funding is in place, Latitude hopes to have the project done within 18-20 months.
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