Columbus Powerhouse, one of Nebraska’s largest hydroelectric generating plants, and part of the Loup River Public Power District’s hydroelectric system. Funded in 1933 by a $7.3 million New Deal Public Works Administration loan and grant, the project was built from 1934 to 1937 during the Great Depression. It included a diversion structure at Genoa, a 35-mile canal, and two hydroelectric generating plants, one at Monroe and the main one at Columbus.
Water drops over 100 feet through penstocks to power turbines and connected generators. The electricity is then distributed through a substation to the electric grid. Operators work around the clock to manage the facility. The construction of the project provided jobs during the Depression, and the generated electricity has supported industrial development in Columbus and nearby areas. The Loup River Public Power District property now offers recreational opportunities, including fishing, camping, picnicking, and hiking.
