Rockford pilot project aims to generate clean energy from Rock River

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — A hydropower pilot project that will utilize the Rock River to generate electricity has received $1 million in funding from the state of Illinois.

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.

The project will be built at the Fordham Dam, and if successful, will be expanded to generate 25kW per hour, to supply electricity to 50 homes. Lattitude plans to reach an agreement with ComEd to feed the generated electricity to the grid and offer residents a credit on their utility bills.

“There are all sorts of applications for this that will then spread out across the country,” said Lattitude’s Carl Cacciatore, a retired program manager for what is now Collins Aerospace. “Rockford will be at the center of it all.”

The funding comes from the Illinois Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, according to Sen. Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford).

“The test program being proposed for the Fordham Dam is just the type of clean energy development we had in mind when we approved the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act,” Stadelman said. “Rockford has a proud manufacturing tradition, and being the base for production and sales of this technology will bring jobs and could lead to wider economic growth.”

The project is expected to take 18 months to manufacture and install.