Power for Progress: 83 years of renewable electricity

A powerful picture from the past
An artist rendering of the Grand River Dam Authority’s Pensacola Dam and powerhouse, created during the early days of the dam. In October 1940 – 83 years ago this month – construction of the dam and powerhouse were completed.

Power for Progress…

A weekly column from the Grand River Dam Authority

83 years of renewable electricity … 

In October of 1940 – 83 years ago this month – Massman Construction Company (Kansas City) completed the major contracts on the Pensacola Dam and its powerhouse. That marked a significant moment not only in Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA) history, but also in Oklahoma history. Soon after, GRDA was harnessing the waters of the Grand River to produce renewable electricity at Oklahoma’s first hydroelectric facility.

Today, over eight decades later, the story, the mission and even the scene remains the same at Pensacola Dam. Although it is no longer GRDA’s only generation asset, Pensacola Dam and its iconic arches still span the Grand River Valley and still utilize an Oklahoma resource – the Grand River – to produce electricity for Oklahomans. 

And today, the benefits provided by Pensacola Dam are still felt statewide. 

In some areas, that impact is broad and measured by the high quality of life and low cost of living made possible by a direct supply of wholesale GRDA power and the economic benefits that come with having the nation’s 24th largest public power utility (by generation) and economic development engine as a neighbor or power supplier. In other areas, that impact is readily visible in GRDA’s ongoing efforts to care for the natural resources under its control, like the Grand River and Illinois River watersheds. GRDA management of these waters also supports a thriving recreational and tourism industry and broad tax base in the region. 

Meanwhile, one in ten Oklahoma communities, including the communities served by GRDA are “public power” meaning they own their own electric distribution systems. GRDA sells wholesale electricity to these communities. In turn, they distribute that power to the end-user homes and businesses across town. The revenues generated from those electricity sales are used to operate and maintain the distribution system, purchase more power from GRDA and support other city services, like streets and parks, police, and fire protection. All that is done without using tax dollars.

GRDA is proud of the important part Pensacola Dam has played in supporting and powering Oklahoma communities since 1940!