Business & Finance

Low Impact group recertifies New York, Washington projects

The Low Impact Hydropower Institute governing board recertified one 44.8-MW New York project and two projects in Washington totaling more than 800 MW as “low-impact” hydropower.

The Low Impact Hydropower Institute governing board recertified one 44.8-MW New York project and two projects in Washington totaling more than 800 MW as �low-impact� hydropower.

The 44.8-MW Beaver River (No. 2645), on the Beaver River in upstate New York, is owned by Brookfield Renewable Energy. It includes eight powerhouses constructed between 1898 and 1930 licensed as a single project. The eight developments -� Belfort, Eagle, Effley, Elmer, High Falls, Moshier, Soft Maple, and Taylorville — are operated in peaking mode and annually generate an average of more than 197 gigawatt-hours.

One of the Washington projects, 690-MW Skagit River (No. 553), in the upper Skagit River Basin, is owned by Seattle City Light. Development of the project’s hydropower spanned three decades, with completion of Gorge Dam in 1924, Diablo Dam in 1936, and Ross Dam in 1952. The project occupies a scenic area in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and Ross Lake National Recreation Area, adjacent to North Cascades National Park.

The city of Tacoma owns the other Washington project, 114-MW Nisqually (No. 1862), on the Nisqually River. The project features two hydroelectric plants, 64-MW La Grande and 50-MW Alder. Each facility includes a dam, reservoir, powerhouse, and power transmission switchyard. LaGrande is a run-of-river facility while Alder is operated in peaking mode.

LIHI said the recertifications recognize the projects continue to avoid or reduce their environmental effects in keeping with LIHI criteria addressing: river flows; water quality; fish passage and protection; protection of watershed, threatened and endangered species, and cultural resources; recreation; and whether the dam has been recommended for removal.

�While it is a bit unusual for the board to have three projects to process at one meeting,� LIHI Chairman Richard Roos-Collins said, �it is further indication of the increased interest by hydroelectric owners to achieve low-impact certification.�

The voluntary LIHI program is designed to help consumers identify environmentally sound, low-impact hydropower facilities for emerging �green� energy markets. (HNN 8/20/08)