(MN) Minneapolis Star Tribune - Power from a new hydroelectric plant on the Mississippi River will produce enough electricity for about 7,500 homes by the end of next year, according to officials who provided an update on the project Thursday. The 10-megawatt plant is located just below the new Interstate 35W bridge at the Lower St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which owns the lock and dam, gave permission to a private company to build the hydro plant in an alternate lock in the river that is not needed for commercial river traffic. That company, Brookfield Renewable Power of Massachusetts, also operates the 20-megawatt hydro plant just downriver at the St. Paul Ford truck assembly plant. More