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Erie Boulevard Hydropower files license application for 41.91 MW Beaver River Hydroelectric

Erie Boulevard Hydropower files license application for 41.91 MW Beaver River Hydroelectric

Erie Boulevard Hydropower L.P., a Brookfield Renewable company, has filed a final license application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for the 41.91 MW Beaver River Hydroelectric Project (P-2645) in New York.

The project is located on the Beaver River in Herkimer and Lewis counties. The existing FERC license was issued in August 1996 and expires on July 31, 2026.

The Beaver River project consists of eight developments (from upstream to downstream): Moshier, Eagle, Soft Maple, Effley, Elmer, Taylorville, Belfort and High Falls. Erie operates all these developments as a system in response to flow releases from the Hudson River Black River Regulating District’s Stillwater Reservoir and natural inflow to the project.

Moshier was constructed in 1929 and features an 8 MW powerhouse with two turbine-generator units. Eagle was constructed in 1914 and its four-unit powerhouse has a capacity of 5.81 MW. Soft Maple became operational in 2025 with a two-unit powerhouse and total capacity of 12.145 MW. Effley was completed in 1914 and features a four-unit powerhouse with total capacity of 2.8 MW. Elmer was completed in 1916 and its two-unit powerhouse has a capacity of 1.5 MW. Taylorville was constructed in 1914 and has a four-unit powerhouse with capacity of 4.645 MW. Belfort was completed in 1903 and redeveloped in 1917 and features a three-unit powerhouse with capacity of 2.21 MW. And High Falls was constructed in 1924 and features a three-unit powerhouse with total capacity of 4.8 MW.

Average annual energy generation from the project from 2010 through 2020 is 204,567 MWh.

Power generated is sold into the wholesale market administered by the New York Stat Independent System Operator.

Erie is not proposing any changes to the Beaver River project developments or project operations as part of this relicensing. According to the application, planned activities are limited to the continuation of the life extension program to maintain; repair; modify or replace the civil, mechanical or electrical components on an as-needed basis.

The Beaver River project is a low-impact hydropower development, recertified in 2008 by the Low Impact Hydropower Institute.

In 2017, improvements to the turbine runners at the Belfort project were included in financing from New York’s “State of the State” plan.