NID News Release

January 13, 2010

Contact: Ron Nelson (530)273-6185 Or Dave Carter (530)265-NEWS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GRASS VALLEY - The Nevada Irrigation District’s Combie North Powerhouse has been rebuilt and is now generating hydroelectric energy. The $3.2 million makeover of the 25-year-old plant was the subject of a presentation at Wednesday’s (Jan. 13) regular meeting of the NID Board of Directors. Project engineer Doug Roderick said construction of the new .5-megawatt powerhouse was completed in September and the plant is now undergoing its first testing with winter water flows. The Combie North Powerhouse is located on the north side of the Bear River just below the dam at Combie Reservoir. It is located directly across the river from the 1.5-megawatt Combie South Powerhouse.

The upgrade, including a new turbine, generator, building, penstock, control gates, bypass and spillway, was completed over a nine-month period by T&S Construction Co., Inc. of Sacramento. Roderick said the plant would produce enough energy to supply about 700 homes and that power sales revenues would allow the district to recoup its investment in the plant in about eight years. The plant has an estimated 50-year lifespan.

NID is a leader among Northern California water agencies in the production of clean hydroelectric energy. In all, the district operates seven power plants that generate enough electricity to supply the equivalent of 60,000 homes.

In other business, Directors:

• Voted to pay the City of Nevada City $30,000 in mitigation fees for wear and tear on Boulder Street during the upgrade of the Upper Cascade Canal nearly 10 years ago. The city asked for reconsideration after rejecting the district’s $30,000 offer in 2000.

• Voted to initiate eminent domain proceedings for seven needed property acquisitions for water facilities for the Cement Hill Water Supply Project and Banner Cascade Pipeline Project. Senior Right-of-Way Agent Matthew Crowe said he is hopeful of negotiated settlements but that the notices were necessary to keep the water projects on track.

• Welcomed two new employees; Mary Scheid of Grass Valley who joined the district as a senior accounting assistant, and Steven Wilson of Roseville, who was hired as a hydroelectric technician.

The next regular meeting of the NID Board of Directors will be held at 9 a.m. on Jan. 27 at the NID Business Center in Grass Valley. NID board meetings are open to the public.

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