2 12pts Muskrat Falls is a hydroelectric dam currently under

2. (12pts) Muskrat Falls is a hydroelectric dam currently under development in Labrador, intended to generate hydroelectric power for Nova Scotia and other areas. In one or two paragraphs, totally approximately 250 words, describe the Muskrat Falls project. Include the following information. a) the current status of the Muskrat Falls project, including any controversies; b) the intended market for Muskrat electricity; c) the designed capacity, in MW (megawatts), of the Muskrat Fall project; d) the river which is dammed by the project, the climate region (see atlas), and the shape of that river\'s annual hydrograph. Present information as concisely as possible, and don\'t editorialize or argue a particular position. Order the information in a way that you think is most appropriate. Cite all the sources that you used to gather information. Use a wordprocessor.

Solution

The Spillway and Powerhouse

In early 2014, Astaldi started construction on the spillway, powerhouse and intake structures for the Muskrat Falls generation project. Since then over 330,000 cubic metres of concrete has been placed to build these three main structures and about 3,800 metric tonnes of structural steel has been installed for the intake and powerhouse.

In 2016, the spillway was put into operation as the river was diverted through the spillway for the first time. In 2017, construction of the powerhouse and intake structures for the Muskrat Falls generating facility was substantially completed.

Spillway – is made up of five bays with gates that open and close as needed to control the release of water from the reservoir (area upstream of the facility).

Intake – draws the water from the river into the powerhouse and then onto the turbines and generators where electricity will be generated. Installing the intake gates is the first step in the process of moving water through the powerhouse where electricity will be made.

Powerhouse – houses the four generating units, which are the mechanical and electrical components required to generate the electricity.

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Construction activities have significantly progressed across the province on the generating facility in Labrador and on the more than 1,600 km of transmission lines and associated infrastructure between Churchill Falls and Soldiers Pond.

Since construction started on the Muskrat Falls Project in 2012, thousands of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians have brought their skills and experience to our provincial energy project. Their hard work and dedication is the driving force for reaching numerous construction milestones to date. Throughout 2017, more than 8,200 workers came together from over 480 communities across the province to put their talents to work to reach 89 per cent construction completion on the Muskrat Falls Project.
The development of Muskrat Falls is generating significant employment opportunities for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. Since the start of construction in 2013 to the end of 2016, approximately $1.4 billion in wages has been paid to NL workers.

It is estimated that approximately $12 million is invested in our provincial economy every week from the construction of the Muskrat Falls Project. Construction of the project continues to generate economic benefits in every corner of the province.

In 2016, employment across the project peaked in October with 4,982 Newfoundland and Labrador residents working, representing 83 per cent of the total workforce in that month. The peak number of Labradorians working on the project in 2016 was 1,225. Newfoundland and Labrador women working on the project peaked at 642 in 2016.

Reflecting Nalcor’s commitments outlined in the project’s Gender Equity and Diversity Program, in 2016, employment of Newfoundland and Labrador residents who self-identified as a member of an Aboriginal group reached a peak of 590 workers. Em­ployment of Labrador Innu peaked at 193 workers. To learn more about the project’s Gender Equity and Diversity Program