The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is seeking power industry comments on potential risks to the U.S. bulk electric system from equipment and services produced in countries considered as threats to national security. FERC announced late last week it was seeking comments on those potential risks. Among the topics sought from industry players include insights...
Staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and North American Electricity Reliability Corporation (NERC) have published a report on cyber planning for response and recovery that outlines best practices for the electric utility industry. According to a press release, the joint staffs of FERC and NERC, and the NERC Regional Entities, developed the report...
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has submitted to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer its status report summarizing the department’s actions during and after the failures of the Edenville and Sanford dams in May and outlining the status of reviews of the state’s dam safety operations. The Preliminary Report on the Edenville Dam...
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) say an independent forensic investigation team is moving forward with its examination of the May 19, 2020, failures of the Edenville and Sanford dams and operations of Smallwood and Secord dams near Midland, Mich. On May 20, FERC directed...
Federal Energy Regulatory Commissioner Bernard McNamee has made it clear all year that he is stepping down from the regulatory body. He finally gave the exact date of his exit. In a Twitter post and statement on the FERC website, McNamee revealed September 4 will be his last day on the job. “Since I announced...
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in the U.S. proposes to update its hydropower project safety regulations to promote continued safe operation, maintenance and repair at jurisdictional projects to ensure the protection of life, health and property in surrounding communities. The proposed changes to part 12 of FERC’s regulations are outlined in a Notice of...
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission staff prepared a final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the relicensing of the Turlock and Modesto Irrigation Districts’ 168-MW Don Pedro Project and for licensing of the 4.7-MW La Grange Project. On April 28, 2014, the districts filed an application (amended on Oct. 11, 2017) for the Don Pedro Project on...
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has issued an order granting an exemption from licensing for the 1.087-MW Strontia Springs Project on the South Platte River in Douglas and Jefferson counties in Colorado. FERC is authorized to exempt from the licensing requirements of Part I of the Federal Power Act small hydroelectric projects with an installed...
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has issued a preliminary permit to Paddy Hill Holdings LLC to study the feasibility of the 9-MW Brownville Hydroelectric Project in Jefferson County, New York. The proposed Brownville project, on the Black River, would consist of a new impoundment with a storage capacity of 500 acre-feet at a normal pool...
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has issued a new (subsequent) operating license for the 223.788-MW Middle Fork American River Hydroelectric Project in California. The project is owned by Placer County Water Agency. The original operating license was issued in March 1963 and expired in February 2013. Since then, the project has operated under an annual...