LG&E and KU celebrate 100 years of generating renewable energy at Dix Dam

Dix Dam Generating Station began producing hydroelectric power in November 1925

(BURGIN, Ky.) - This November marks a century of operations at Dix Dam, which is part of Kentucky Utilities' E.W. Brown Generating Station. Completed in 1925, the Dix Dam Hydro Plant was hailed as the world's largest stone-filled dam and its design created Herrington Lake. Today, it still produces 33 megawatts of power with all three units running.

"Dix Dam is not only a valued staple of our generation fleet but also of the surrounding community and the thousands of local residents and tourists who visit Herrington Lake each year," said E.W. Brown General Manager Greg Wilson. "Our employees take great pride in this facility and honoring its rich history. With any upgrades we've made over the years, we've worked hard to mimic the original look of the dam and powerhouse. We look forward to another 100 years of generating renewable energy at this historic site."

In the 1920s, electricity was coming of age, and demands for new energy were growing dramatically. Local resident L.B Herrington developed the concept of using the Dix River for a power source to serve that demand. After much coordination, the Kentucky Hydro-Electric Co. and the Dix River Power Company, which was later purchased by KU, built the dam and a three-unit hydro plant. The dam impounded the river water into Herrington Lake, which was then released to generate electricity at the plant.

Construction officially began in the fall of 1923 and was a massive undertaking for the time. The dangerous work included blasting the cliffs surrounding the Dix River and creating a new spillway, then moving multi-ton rocks to the site and chinking them into place with smaller pieces. During the height of construction, up to 2,000 workers were on the job. Many lived in an on-site village that included houses, restaurants, a theater, a hospital, and fire and police protection.

Today, the plant continues to produce energy and is part of KU's and sister utility LG&E's all-of-the-above approach to power generation that's among the most reliable in the nation. In recent years, the units were upgraded from the original generating capacity of 24 to 33 megawatts. Herrington Lake is the deepest lake in Kentucky, boasting a depth of 249 feet at the dam.

Over the last century, visitors and local residents have enjoyed the lake's beauty and recreational value. In 2001, the Herrington Lake Conservation League was established to preserve the natural beauty of the lake and surrounding water shed. Over the years, E.W. Brown employees have served as members of the league.

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Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company, part of the PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) family of companies, are regulated utilities that serve more than 1.3 million customers and have consistently ranked among the best companies for customer service in the United States. LG&E serves 335,000 natural gas and 436,000 electric customers in Louisville and 16 surrounding counties. KU serves 545,000 customers in 77 Kentucky counties and 28,000 in five counties in Virginia. More information is available at https://www.lge-ku.com and https://www.pplweb.com.

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