FERC News

FERC issues preliminary permit for small hydro project at Corps dam in Virginia

FERC issues preliminary permit for small hydro project at Corps dam in Virginia

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has issued a preliminary permit to Tivis Branch Hydro LLC for the 1.44 MW Flannagan Hydroelectric Project (P-15296) in Virginia.

Tivis Branch Hydro filed the application in January 2023, proposing to study the feasibility of the Flannagan project to be located at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ John W. Flannagan Dam on the Pound River in Dickenson County, Va.

The proposed project would consist of four 360 kW turbine-generator units to be placed inside the Corps’ intake tower; a new 40-foot-long, 40-foot-wide operating space inside the intake tower; a new 300-foot-long conduit attached to the access bridge to the intake tower; a new 15-foot-long, 15-foot-wide substation pad including a 4.16/12.47-kV step-up transformer; a new 300-foot-long, 4.16-kV generator lead to the substation pad; a 30-foot-long, 12.47-kV transmission line connecting the substation pad to the existing 12.47-kV Appalachian Power Company’s distribution line; and appurtenant facilities.

The proposed project would have an estimated annual generation of 8,000 MWh.   

The purpose of a preliminary permit is to preserve the rights of the permit holder to have the first priority in applying for a license for the project that is being studied. A preliminary permit does not authorize the permittee to access lands and does not authorize the permittee to undertake any land-disturbing activities. Permit conditions are framed to ensure the permittee does not tie up a site without pursuing in good faith a study of the project’s feasibility. If the project is found to be feasible, the permittee can use the data and information gathered to prepare an application for a license.

The permit is effective July 1, 2023, and ends 48 months from the effective date or on the date that a development application submitted by the permittee has been accepted for filing, whichever occurs first.

Hydro Review reported nearly a decade ago that the proposed project was licensed by Jordan Hydroelectric L.P., then with a capacity of 1.8 MW.