Brookfield Renewable Power has applied for recertification of five New York hydroelectric projects totaling 187.2 MW as "low-impact" hydropower.
The Low Impact Hydropower Institute reported July 20, 2009, that it received a recertification application from Brookfield for its two-development 18.5-MW Hoosic project (No. 2616) on the Hoosic River northeast of Albany and Troy, N.Y. Originally certified by LIHI in 2004, Hoosic was relicensed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in 2002, following a settlement agreement among Brookfield's predecessor and 12 other parties.
LIHI said it also received application from Brookfield to recertify 14 hydropower developments on New York’s Raquette River comprising four FERC-licensed hydroelectric projects, 102.389-MW Upper Raquette (No. 2084), 48.323-MW Middle Raquette (No. 2320) (HydroWorld 4/26/07), 18-MW Lower Raquette (No. 2330) (HydroWorld 5/30/09), and storage reservoir Carry Falls (No. 2060).
The Raquette River projects were first certified by LIHI in 2004. The projects were relicensed by FERC in 2002 following a settlement agreement signed by Brookfield's predecessor and 16 other parties.
In May, LIHI announced Brookfield Renewable Power's 39.35-MW Rumford Falls project (No. 2333) on the Androscoggin River in Maine had earned certification. (HydroWorld 5/14/09) Brookfield's application for certification of the 17.92-MW Twin Cities project (No. 362) on the Mississippi River in Minnesota is pending. (HydroWorld 1/2/09)
The voluntary LIHI program is designed to help consumers identify environmentally sound, low-impact hydropower facilities for emerging "green" energy markets. Certification is valid for five years, during which the owner can market the project as a certified low-impact hydro facility. Certification also means power generated by the project could be eligible for other green power programs. (HydroWorld 7/14/09)
LIHI is taking comments on the applications until Sept. 20 via e-mail to info@lowimpacthydro.org. For information, see the LIHI Internet site, www.lowimpacthydro.org.
