Energy Law

FERC Approves First Hydrokinetic Installation at Existing Hydro Project

By Tracy Davis

In a December 13 order, FERC approved a hydrokinetic generator that City of Hastings, Minnesota proposes to install by April 2009 in the Mississippi River.  Hydrokinetic projects generate electricity from waves or from the flow of water.  Hastings proposed to suspend two 35-kW hydrokinetic from a floating barge in the tailrace of its existing 4.4-MW run-of-the-river dam.  The city estimates the new hydrokinetic units will generate an average of 364 MW-hours of electricity per year.  In a statement issued along with the approval, FERC Chairman Joseph T. Kelliher praised the project as a "creative solution to meeting electricity demand using renewable resources," and congratulated Hastings "for moving forward with the idea."

FERC did set forth certain conditions on its approval in order to allay environmental concerns.  The city must monitor the project for any adverse impacts on water quality, fish, or birds.  If the monitoring shows any adverse impacts on water quality or avian life, the city must modify the project's operation, including removing the turbines or barge if necessary.  The city must also develop a plan to control the spread of invasive zebra mussels during installation or operation of the project.

Full post as published by Energy Legal Blog on December 16, 2008 (boomark / email).