Hydro relicensing - From a trickle to a flood

Journal Article · · Alternative Sources of Energy; (USA)

OSTI ID:6404662

Madden, Jr, W J ^[1]

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1. Bishop, Cook, Purcell, and Reynolds, Washington, DC (USA)

Renewal applications for some 155 hydroelectric projects representing approximately 2,080 megawatts of installed capacity are due to be filed at Federal Energy Regulatory Commission by the end of 1991. The Electric Consumers Protection Act, fondly referred to as ECPA, began as an effort by the investor-owned utility industry to add a few words to the Federal Power Act so as to eliminate any question that municipal preference may apply on relicensing as it does on initial licensing. The industry accomplished that purpose and much more. Among other things which emerged in that legislation was a requirement for a thorough review on relicensing of each project's environmental impact and of each licensee's record as an owner and operator of the project. Specifically, FERC was directed on relicensing (and in most cases on initial licensing as well) to: (1) give equal consideration to power and non-power resources in determining whether to issue licenses and on what conditions they should be issued; (2) impose in licenses all conditions recommended by fish and wildlife agencies for the mitigation and enhancement of fishery and wildlife habitat unless FERC can find that such conditions would be inconsistent with the purposes and requirements of the Federal Power Act; (3) determine whether the project is compatible with any state prepared comprehensive plan covering the waterway in question; and (4) consider the existing licensee's record of compliance with the terms and conditions of its license. The full effect of the ECPA amendments to the Federal Power Act will not be known for some time to come. But some preliminary observations are made.

• OSTI ID: 6404662
• Journal Information: Alternative Sources of Energy; (USA), Journal Name: Alternative Sources of Energy; (USA); ISSN ASEND; ISSN 0146-1001
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

13 HYDRO ENERGY
130400 -- Hydro Energy-- Legislation & Regulations
130500* -- Hydro Energy-- Economic
Industrial
& Business Aspects
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
296000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Electric Power
299000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Unconventional Sources & Power Generation
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
ANIMALS
COMPETITION
COMPLIANCE
ELECTRIC POWER INDUSTRY
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
FISHERIES
HABITAT
HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS
INDUSTRY
LEGISLATION
LICENSING
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
PERMIT APPLICATIONS
POWER PLANTS
REGULATIONS
US DOE
US FERC
US ORGANIZATIONS