Driving the news: The E.W. Brown Generating Station and surrounding community are marking a major milestone — 100 years of renewable energy production from Dix Dam, the Dix hydroelectric plant and Herrington Lake.
Why it matters: This trio of infrastructure has powered Kentucky homes and businesses for a century, showcasing innovation, sustainability and local vision.
Flashback:
- In the 1920s, local resident L.B. Herrington proposed harnessing the Dix River to meet rising electricity demands.
- The Kentucky Hydro-Electric Co. and Dix River Power Company (later acquired by Kentucky Utilities Company) built the dam and a three-unit hydro plant.
- The project was completed in 1925, forming Herrington Lake and launching hydroelectric generation in Kentucky.
Engineering marvel:
- At the time, Dix Dam was:
- Kentucky’s first hydroelectric dam
- The world’s largest rock-filled dam
- The tallest dam east of the Rockies
By the numbers:
- Original generating capacity: 24 megawatts
- Upgraded capacity: 33 megawatts
- Herrington Lake depth: 249 feet — making it Kentucky’s deepest lake
The bottom line: A century later, Dix Hydro continues to deliver renewable, low-cost energy, standing as a testament to local ingenuity and sustainable infrastructure.
