American Electric Power's John E. Amos Plant - Kanawha River Mile 39.2

(photo by Tim Smith, Corps of Engineers)

2007 coal shipments on the Ohio River basin’s waterways totaled almost 145 million tons, or about 55% of all barge cargo.  Of this amount, more than 113 million tons were destined for coal-fired power plants.  In 2007, this coal moved to 38 power plants along the Ohio River and its tributaries (see map.  Coal moving in the Ohio River basin destined for power plants had a value of almost $4.3 billion. 

Most of the utility coal moving by barge in the Ohio River basin originated on the Ohio River.  Some of this coal actually was mined in the western United States and moved by rail to docks on the Ohio River, where it was loaded into barges to complete the trip to power plants.  Other significant origins for utility coal were the Monongahela River and the low-sulfur coal producing areas along the Kanawha and Big Sandy Rivers.  Rivers outside the Ohio River system that received coal from the basin included the Mississippi, Black Warrior/Tombigbee, Panama City Harbor, Escambia, Biloxi Harbor, Arkansas, Illinois and Neches.

West Virginia shipped the most utility coal by water, moving over 35 million tons of primarily low sulfur coal to 25 plants in 4 states.  Kentucky, also a source of low sulfur coal, was next with almost 30 million tons.  Ohio’s 10 power plants which received coal by barge took over 35 million tons of coal worth over $1.3 billion.  More of this coal (51%) came from West Virginia than any other state.  Kentucky was next with 17.7 million tons of coal received by 8 power plants, with Kentucky supplying 53% of the tonnage.

With over 113 million tons of utility coal moving on the Ohio River, any delays encountered by barges factor into the efficiency and cost of electric power generation.  At John T. Myers and Greenup Locks and Dams, major repairs of the main chambers associated with heavy use and age force greater future reliance on the inadequately-sized auxiliary chamber.  This results in accelerating transit costs.  In 2007, Greenup Locks transited over 37 million tons of utility coal, and more then 28 million tons moved through John T. Myers Locks, which is 58% and 42%, respectively.  The John T. Myers and Greenup Locks Improvements Interim Feasibility Report, a product of the Ohio River Mainstem Study, recommends a 600’ extension of the auxiliary chamber and a miter gate quick changeout system at both projects, along with rehabilitation of the main chamber at Greenup.  These projects were authorized for construction in the Water Resources Development Act of 2000.   

McAlpine Locks, in downtown Louisville, KY, passed over 17.8 million tons of utility coal in 2007.  This is 35% of the total tonnage at this project.  Construction began in 1996 and is expected to become operational in 2009.  During construction, the McAlpine project is reduced to a single chamber project because the new 1200’ lock is being constructed in the foot-print of the auxiliary 600’ chamber.  

Future improvements to navigation on the Ohio’s tributaries will also benefit utility coal shipments.  In 2007, 65% of the Kanawha River’s 20.7 million tons was coal bound for power plants.  An improvement to Marmet Locks on the Kanawha River was authorized in 1996.  Marmet L&D on the Kanawha River officially opened the new 800 x 110’ lock on January 23, 2008 ahead of schedule, with all construction completed by 2009. The existing chambers would remain open for emergency use and during maintenance.    At London Locks, a major rehabilitation project is planned.  The failing upstream guardwall will be replaced, and the riverward lock chamber will be extended in length by moving the existing miter gate 47 feet upstream.  This will allow two jumbo barges to fit in the chamber instead of one.   

The modernization plan for the  Lower Monongahela River includes replacement of the fixed crest dam at Lock and Dam 2 with a gated dam (to be called Braddock Dam).  The locks at Locks and Dam 4 would be replaced with new twin 84’ x 720’ chambers, and this project will be renamed Charleroi Locks and Dam.  Locks and Dam 3 will be removed. The current schedule calls for completion of work by 2013 depending on funding. In 2007, over 11.2 million tons of coal bound for power plants moved through the existing 3 locks. This was 60% of the total coal tonnage of the project.

Most of this tonnage also moves through Emsworth, Dashields and Montgomery Locks, which are the first three navigation projects on the Ohio River.  These three projects are the only remaining navigation projects on the Ohio River that do not have a 110’ x 1200’ lock chamber.  The costs associated with major rehabilitation and major maintenance over a 50 year economic design life may exceed the cost of replacement with new larger facilities.  Any closures of the main chambers for repairs force greater future reliance on the very small auxiliary chambers.  As part of the Ohio River Main Stem Study of navigation modernization, replacement plans involving 2 or 3 projects are being evaluated.

The hyperlinks below enable downloading of the Word file containing the profile text on utility coal and the graphics files containing the maps.  To download a file, right click on the hyperlink, then choose "Save Target As" or a similar command to save the file.

Download Utility Coal Profile Word Document:  (without maps) (with maps); Ohio River Basin Coal-fired Power Plant Map:  (bitmap) (jpg); Ohio River Basin Coal Reserves Map:  (tif) (gif) (jpg); U.S. Coal Consumption Map:  (gif); John E. Amos Power Plant Picture:  (jpg)