Topic
Hydropower
85 published works
Washington Energy Report
The Department of Energy’s Water Power Technologies Office Releases Request for Information on Hydropower Program
By Elizabeth McCormick, Chuck Sensiba
On April 27, 2020, the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) released a Request for Information (RFI) to gather information and feedback from hydropower industry stakeholders on…
Environmental Law & Policy Monitor
Federal Agency COVID-19 Updates Impacting the Hydropower Industry
By Morgan Gerard, Elizabeth McCormick
In light of the coronavirus disease (“COVID-19”), the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued guidance directing that all Federal Executive Branch departments and agencies within the National Capital Region (Maryland,…
Washington Energy Report
FERC Grants Extension of Hydropower License Terms
By Elizabeth McCormick, Chuck Sensiba
On Monday, March 2, FERC staff issued three virtually identical orders extending the license terms for 20 hydroelectric projects along the Wisconsin River that have licenses set to expire between…
Washington Energy Report
House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Draft “CLEAN Future Act” Includes Hydropower Provisions
By Elizabeth McCormick, Chuck Sensiba
On Tuesday, January 28, Democratic leadership from the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Environment and Climate Change and Energy Subcommittees released legislative text of the draft “Climate Leadership and…
Washington Energy Report
FERC Issues Guidance for Closed-Loop Pumped Storage Projects at Abandoned Mines and List of Nonpowered Dams with Potential for Non-Federal Hydroelectric Development
By Elizabeth McCormick, Chuck Sensiba
On October 17, 2019, pursuant to the America’s Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) of 2018, FERC issued a guidance document for applicants seeking preliminary permits or licenses for closed-loop pumped storage…
Washington Energy Report
FERC Accepts in Part and Rejects in Part CAISO’s Proposal to Modify Its Open Access Transmission Tariff to Accommodate Hydroelectric Resources
By Miriam Archibong, Elizabeth McCormick
On September 30, 2019, FERC accepted in part and rejected in part, the California Independent System Operator’s (“CAISO”) July 2, 2019 proposed revisions (“July 2 Filing”) to its open access…
Washington Energy Report
DOE Announces a New Round of Hydroelectric Incentive Funding
By Meghan Mandel, Elizabeth McCormick
On May 21, 2019, the U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) announced that its Hydroelectric Production Incentive Program is offering $6.6 million in new funding for projects that would add hydropower…
Washington Energy Report
DOE Updates Hydropower Market Report
By Meghan Mandel, Elizabeth McCormick
Last week, the U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) released an update (“2018 Update”) to its 2017 U.S. Hydropower Market Report (“2017 Report”). The 2018 Update provides a status report on…
Washington Energy Report
FERC Holds that California Waived Clean Water Act Authority in Pending Hydropower Project Relicensing
By Morgan Gerard, Chuck Sensiba
On April 18, 2019, FERC issued a unanimous order, supported by all FERC Commissioners, ruling that the California State Water Resources Control Board (“SWRCB”) waived authority to issue a water quality…
Washington Energy Report
FERC Establishes Expedited Hydropower Licensing Process
By Meghan Mandel, Elizabeth McCormick
On April 18, 2019, FERC issued Order No. 858, revising its regulations to conform with the America’s Water Infrastructure Act (“AWIA”), which added sections 34 and 35 to the Federal…