Make wishtv.com your home page

Notre Dame would build hydroelectric plant under proposal

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) – The University of Notre Dame would build a water-driven power facility through a partnership with the city of South Bend under a proposal submitted to federal energy regulators.

Documents filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission indicate Notre Dame would build the 1.83 megawatt facility on the city-owned dam downtown. Construction would start next year and be completed in 2019.

The South Bend Tribune reports  the facility would generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of about 900 homes.

The estimated cost of the project isn’t clear. Notre Dame spokesman Dennis Brown declined to comment on the project, and the city hasn’t offered many details.

The university currently operates its own on-campus power plant and purchases additional power from Indiana Michigan Power.