A Bright Energy Future for Southeastern Kentucky

Overview

The Lewis Ridge Pumped Storage Project will strengthen and stabilize the power grid by delivering 24/7 on-demand electricity from a proven, reliable technology. Located in Bell County, Kentucky at a former coal mine, the $1.3 billion+ project will create 2,300 family-wage construction jobs and generate enough on-demand energy to power about 70,000 homes.

The most common and widespread form of energy storage, pumped storage hydro helps safeguard our electrical grid against blackouts, extreme weather events, and other potential crises that can disrupt the economy and our way of life.

Project at a glance

Transforms a former coal mine into an energy asset

Provides enough electricity to power 67,000 homes

Offers 8 hours of energy storage daily

Creates 2,300 construction jobs

Generates $16.5 million in tax revenue annually in Bell County

How It Works

Pumped storage facilities rely on gravity to produce energy. The system moves water between a lower reservoir and an upper reservoir. When energy is plentiful, excess power is used to pump water from the lower reservoir to the upper reservoir. Then, when demand for power is high, water is released from the upper reservoir and used to turn hydroelectric turbines to generate on-demand electricity. This on-demand energy is critical to ensuring reliability during extreme weather events and to also maintain the stability of the system in daily operations.

The system is filled with water once, and then re-uses that water, over and over. It repeats the cycle, continually storing and dispatching reliable energy.

Project Timeline

  • November 2021

    Rye Development filed a preliminary permit application with FERC

  • March 2022

    FERC issued preliminary permit

  • October 2022

    Rye filed a pre-application document (PAD) and Notice of Intent to file an application with FERC

  • September 2024

    Rye filed the Draft License Application to FERC

  • June 2025

    Rye filed the Final License Application to FERC

  • Q2 2027

    FERC license issuance anticipated

  • 2027 - 2031

    Construction

  • 2031

    Commercial operation date

Go here to learn about the technical details of the project.