Ludington Pumped Storage Project

The Ludington Pumped Storage Project, when completed at the end of 1973, will have a 1,872-Mw installed capacity. The upper reservoir with 53,000 acre-ft usable vessel is formed by a 6-mile-long earthfill dam with a sandwich type asphalt facing. The six penstocks are encased in concrete, under the embankment, and buried in silty sand on the slope. At the intake structure the gates are suspended by hoists which allow for fast emergency closure. A prestressed, precast, concrete baffle wall serves as vortex suppressor and ice barrier. The intake apron, with splitter walls, is an energy dissipater for the pumped water energy. The powerhouse, constructed on clay, is protected by a breakwater and two jetties. The 6-312-Mw units are remotely operated and are started in pumping by the synchronous back-to-back method and pony motor.