Balancing the scales: Evaluating power and non-power values
- EDAW, Inc., San Francisco, CA (United States)
Passage of the Electric Consumers Protection Act of 1986 (ECPA) directed the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to give {open_quotes}equal consideration{close_quotes} to all competing site resources when relicensing a hydropower project, including development and non-development values. Coupled with increasing public awareness and concerns regarding environmental protection, ECPA has significantly changed the hydropower (re)licensing process and future hydropower operations. Prior to ECPA, the FERC was required to make a determination that a hydro project was best adapted to a comprehensive plan for improving or developing a waterway for the utilization of water power development and for the beneficial public uses including recreational purposes. The FERC and ECPA guidelines, therefore, require the relicensing applicant to address and balance traditional {open_quotes}power{close_quotes} benefits of a project with {open_quotes}non-power{close_quotes} values, but provide little insight into how this is to be done. On a project relicensing as complex as the N. Umpqua Hydroelectric Project, with numerous potential modifications to both physical components as well as project operations, providing a logical, defensible approach to alternatives evaluation and decision-making has been accomplished through a comprehensive screening process. The process has coupled the development of the Resource Utilization Study as an element of the FERC Application Exhibit B, with the development of the Exhibit E evaluation of Alternative Locations, Designs and Energy sources. This combination has allowed the applicant to take a proactive approach to the relicensing effort and to focus on, evaluate and propose the most workable balance of resources for relicensing, while advocating (1) a program of plant and equipment upgrade and modification to improve efficiency, (2) recreational improvements commensurate with user levels, and (3) environmental resource enhancements.
- OSTI ID:
- 219990
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9507190-; TRN: 96:000708-0072
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Waterpower 1995: international conference, San Francisco, CA (United States), 25-28 Jul 1995; Other Information: PBD: 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of Waterpower`95. Volume 1-3; Cassidy, J.L. [ed.]; PB: 2869 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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