Hennepin Island Hydroelectric Plant
| Company type | Power generation facility |
|---|---|
| Industry | Hydroelectric power |
| Headquarters | Minneapolis , United States |
| Products | Electricity |
| Owner | Northern States Power / Xcel Energy |
The Hennepin Island Hydroelectric Plant, situated at St. Anthony Falls in Minneapolis, Minnesota, represents a vital component of the St. Anthony Falls Hydroelectric Development. Managed by Northern States Power/Xcel Energy, this facility utilizes the river's only significant waterfall on Hennepin Island to produce electricity via five generating units. Historically, this location supplied power to Minneapolis’s early industrial sector, including operations such as sawmills and grist mills.
In March 2004, NSP/Xcel secured a renewed license from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which incorporated the creation of Water Power Park on the island. This park serves to highlight the industrial heritage of the falls while encouraging recreational activities. By 2008, NSP/Xcel collaborated with the University of Minnesota’s St. Anthony Falls Laboratory to develop 'StreamLab,' an innovative floodplain model designed to improve flood bypass channels and facilitate research into the area's ecological and hydrological dynamics.
This hydroelectric plant is one of 99 contributing elements within the St. Anthony Falls Historic District, which is recognized on the National Register of Historic Places.
In addition, Crown Hydro, LLC has put forward plans for a new hydroelectric installation located near the Stone Arch Bridge on the Mississippi River’s opposite shore.