Nighttime at O’Shaughnessy Dam, 1922
The Way It Was
The Birth of Our Hydropower
Our use of clean hydropower and the construction of O’Shaughnessy Dam in remote
mountain terrain dates back to 1918. From the start, dependable electricity was essential
for boring drills, tools and nighttime lighting. Visionary Chief Engineer Michael
O’Shaughnessy had instituted a nonstop 24-hour schedule, an innovation at the time.
The first powerhouse—called Early Intake—was built on the Tuolumne River, 12 miles
downstream from the future dam. The Hetch Hetchy project went on for the next 16
years, while the tiny Tuolumne River workhorse produced $550,000 worth of power for
its construction. Early Intake operated until 1967.
7 currents | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016
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