Hydropower Turbines in the Niagara River?
There are now three proposals for installing hydropower or hydrokinetic turbines in the Niagara River:
1.
Hydrokinetic developer, Free Flow Power Corp., is asking FERC
for a preliminary permit, on behalf of its FFP Niagara Project 1 LLC, to
study the 17.5-MW Niagara River hydrokinetic project (No. 13098) above the
falls. That project would utilize 875 Free Flow Power hydrokinetic units grouped
in matrices placed along 17.5 miles of the Niagara River from Peace Bridge, at
the outlet of Lake Erie, to the lower end of Grand Island, above Niagara Falls.
Free Flow, of Manchester, Mass., is pursuing development of more than 60
in-stream kinetic hydropower projects, many on the Mississippi River. (HNN
1/23/08) <http://www.hydronews.net/story.asp?story_id=3145&worldregion_id=2>
(c) HCI Publications, 2008 (six turbines are pictured in an
array above). To view a copy of their application, click
here or go to
www.ferc.gov website, go to their elibrary, and do a search for P-13098
filed in January 08 or call them at 202-502-8371.
2. Hydrokinetic power developer Hydro
Green Energy LLC of Houston has filed applications with the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission for a preliminary permit to study development of 70-MW New
York 1 (No. 13112--to view application, click here) to utilize 36 Hydro Green generating units 1.9 miles
downstream from Niagara Falls, N.Y., immediately below the area known as the
Whirlpool. Hydro Green designs, builds, and operates hydrokinetic energy
systems that can be deployed in rivers, tidal areas, and oceans. The systems
generate electricity from moving water without a need to construct dams,
impoundments, or conduits. The company already holds more than a dozen
preliminary permits for projects in Alaska and Mississippi, many utilizing
existing Corps of Engineers dams.
3. FERC said it also received a second application from Hydro
Green for a permit for 70-MW New York 2 (No. 13113--to view application, click
here) to utilize 54 Hydro Green
units four miles downstream of Niagara Falls, N.Y., immediately above the
Lewiston-Queenston Bridge.
If granted by FERC, a preliminary permit gives an applicant
priority for a site over competing applicants, while the permit holder studies
the
site and makes financial arrangements necessary to apply for a license. A permit
does not authorize construction.
Buffalo Niagara RIVERKEEPER'S Concerns:
Buffalo Niagara RIVERKEEPERâ Environmental Engineer Maureen Mayer says, “Low head and small-scale hydro developments usually damage the environment the least (compared to large hydroelectric plants with reservoirs and other electric producers such as coal or oil). But small size or small head does not necessarily mean few impacts. Some "run of the river" hydro can have significant environmental impacts, especially in important and unique ecological areas such as the Niagara River.”
Buffalo Niagara RIVERKEEPERâ is concerned about project impacts on habitat and recreation throughout the year's seasons. Besides normal tidal action (click here to read a general fact sheet about Tidal Power written by Waterkeeper Alliance staff scientist Janelle Robbins), the levels of the River and Lake Erie rise and fall with the seasons, precipitation and the seiche effect. What this would mean are varying clearances above the turbines for boats and fish to pass over.
This type of project has been installed elsewhere. One such example is in the East River in Manhattan. Check out these websites: http://www.verdantpower.com/what-initiative and http://www.earthportal.org/news/?p=520
Buffalo Niagara RIVERKEEPERâ is currently researching the proposals and hasn’t developed a formal position as yet. For anyone wishing to file comments, protests or notices to intervene for the Free Flow Project (the deadline is May 19th), instructions for filing by paper or electronic filing (preferred) can be found at the FERC website: http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp. Refer to Project No. 13098-000.
Deadline for the two Hydro Green projects is July 6th.