The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has issued guidance for the development of closed-loop pumped storage projects at abandoned mine sites, as well as a list of existing non-powered federal dams that FERC and other agencies agree have the greatest potential for non-federal hydropower development. Both actions fulfill FERC’s requirements under Sections 3003 and 3004...
U.S. President Donald Trump has nominated James P. Danly (R-Tenn.) to be a member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. He will serve the remainder of the term, expiring June 30, 2023, to be served by Kevin J. McIntyre. McIntyre passed away in January 2019, after stepping down as chairman in October 2018 due to...
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) staff have issued a report offering recommendations to help users, owners and operators of the bulk-power system improve their compliance with mandatory Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) standards, as well as their overall cybersecurity posture. According to the report: “The CIP Reliability Standards are designed to mitigate the cybersecurity and physical...
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has issued a preliminary permit to ECOsponsible LLC to study the feasibility of the 3-MW Caughdenoy Lock Hydro Project on the Oneida River in New York. The proposed project would be located at Caughdenoy Dam, an existing control dam 15 feet high by 550 feet long. The project would consist of: Three...
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission proposes to modernize its regulations governing small power producers and cogenerators under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA) to better address consumer concerns and market changes in the energy landscape in recent decades. Congress enacted PURPA to address the national energy crisis by encouraging the development of...
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has issued a preliminary permit to Cherokee Rivers Company LLC to study the feasibility of the proposed 4.5-MW Lower Coosawattee Hydroelectric Project in the Coosawattee River in Georgia. The project would be located at the Carter’s Reregulation Dam in Murray County, which is operated by the U.S. Army Corps of...
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has issued a preliminary permit to ECOsponsible LLC to study the feasibility of the 6-MW Whitney Point Dam Hydroelectric Project on the Otselic River in New York. The proposed project would be located at Whitney Point Dam, owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in Broome County. The dam...
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in the U.S. has issued an original operating license to Kenai Hydro LLC for its proposed 5-MW Grant Lake Hydroelectric Project in Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska. The small hydro project will be located on Grant Lake and Grant Creek near the town of Moose Pass. It will occupy about 1,689...
The Kleinman Center for Energy Policy at the University of Pennsylvania is awarding this year’s Carnot Prize to Cheryl LaFleur, commissioner of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). She will be awarded the prize in late October, two months after her departure from the agency.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has issued a new operating license to the city of Radford to continue operation and maintenance of the 1.2-MW Municipal Hydroelectric Project.