The William Birch Rankine Power Station is a hydro electric station that resides along the Canadian side of the Niagara River. These generators are decommissioned however they are maintained by a small number of staff in case of an instance when they are needed.
William Birch Rankine of Geneva, New York came to Niagara Falls in 1877 at the age of 19.The Station was built in 1905 for the Canadian Niagara Power Corporation. In 1907, the Rankine Power Station provided the first electricity to the Village of Fort Erie. By 1927, construction of the Rankine Power Station was completed.In 2000, the Fortis Incorporated Power Group purchased this hydro-electric power generating station by Ontario Power Generation.
The water rights agreement for the William Rankine Power station expires in 2009. It would cost the city too much money to tranistion from its current 25 cycle to a 60 cycle power. It would be too hard to compete with the interest of more efficiently energy producing stations downstream. Ironically, the Rankine Power station receives its power from Sir Adam Beck Power Station to stay operating.
Industrial and Infrastructure Photography at NTROPY.US
It is an exciting time in Ontario and within FortisOntario. As a 100% Canadian-owned utility company, FortisOntario has a rich history of providing hydro-electric generation, transmission and distribution services for over 100 years in the province of Ontario.
There is $20 parking behind the building for the general public.
The Niagara Parkway runs right beside the building and over the waterflow area.
Dufferin Islands is just south of the power station.
From Buffalo:
Cross the Peace Bridge into Canada
Take exit 21 for NY-384/Buffalo Ave toward R. Moses Parkway/New York State Park American Falls.
Keep right at the fork to continue toward Lasalle Express
Continue onto Robert Moses parkway.
Slight right toward John Daly Blvd
Staight onto John Daly Blvd
Left at Niagara St/NY-384 N
Continue to follow NY-384 N
NY-384 N turns slightly left and becomes Rainbow Bridge (Entering Ontario, Canada)
Continue onto Rainbow Bridge (Partial toll road)
Right at Falls Ave
Right onto Hiram Street
Right at River Road
Continue onto the Niagara River Parkway and destination will be on the right.
From Toronto:
Get on QEW Niagara over Garden City Skyway in St. Catharines
Take exit toward Dorchester Rd
Left at King's Highway 420
Continue onto Falls Avenue
Continue onto the Niagara River Parkway
The William Birch Power Station is on the right hand side
It is located just south of Table Rock information centre
FortisOntario
William Birch Rankine Power Station
Niagara River Parkway
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Latitude: | 43.074412 |
Longitude: | -79.078780 |
UTM easting: | 656408 |
UTM northing: | 4770869 |