Hydro Dam-Proposal Overview
On May 21, 2009, the LHLC Board of Directors received notice, via the membership in the Piscataquog Land Conservancy, of a Notice of Application, issued on 4 May 2009 by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, to conduct a feasibility study for a hydro powered generation station on Lake Horace. The application, filed in March 2009, is for the study of the feasibility of the Weare Reservoir Dam Hydroelectric Project. The project would reuse the existing dam, and modify the dam outlet to generate an estimated annual 600 megawatt-hours of electricity, which would be sold to Public Service Company of NH. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has assigned FERC Project # 13413-000 to this effort, and published the notice in the Federal Register as required by law. What follows is a brief excerpt describing the project from the FERC notice. “The proposed project would consist of: (1) a newly constructed powerhouse below the existing outlet works; (2) a 100-foot long, 36-inch-diameter penstock with electrically controlled butterfly valve; (3) two submersible or tubular-type turbine-generators with a total hydraulic capacity of 85 cubic feet per second and a total installed generating capacity of 0.150 megawatts; (4) a newly excavated 125-foot-long tailrace; (5) an approximately 400-foot-long transmission line; and (5) appurtenant facilities.” The LHLC Board of Directors discussed the matter and voted to ask the LHLC President to approach the Town of Weare Board of Selectman (BOS). It was the opinion of the LHLC Board that it was in the best interest of all town residents, not just the lake property owners, to be represented in this process. Gene Propper attended the meeting of the Weare Board of Selectman on 1 June 2009. As represented in the Draft Minutes, the issue was not known to all members of the BOS, who thanked Gene for bringing this to their attention. BOS guest Mr. Ian McSweeney advised that the study permit had already been granted by the FERC, and that the town had similar concerns and questions as raised by the LHLC. The item was discussed at the general assembly of the LHLC membership in July 2009. The membership voiced a strong opinion to keep tracking this for the benefit of all, but that no immediate action was required due to the long study period (3 years), and a separate permitting process to do any actual work, presuming the study shows the project is feasible. It was noted by longtime members and residents that there was a similar effort a couple of decades ago that did not prove feasible.
About the Application
The Application was filed by: Northeast Hydrodevelopment LLC, 100 State Route 101A, Building C, Unit 270, Amherst, NH 03031 (603) 672-8210 Attn: Norm Hebert, Manager. In the description of the Application, it identifies the scope of the project as a request to establish priority rights to conduct feasibility study and gather data, for a period of 36 months. The applicant claims (refer to section (6) of the application) to be in leasehold negotiation with the NH Department of Environmental Services over the Weare Reservoir Dam (NHWRB#247.01) rights. The LHLC Board strongly recommends Town of Weare, and lake area residents and property owners read the application and familiarize themselves with this project. The LHLC will track the project going forward. At this time we are unaware of any requirement by Northeast Hydro development to share information as the study progresses, but research continues in this area. June 2009 1
Study Scope The LHLC Board has received a number of feedback comments from folks who have read the detailed application. Here is a brief summary of the most frequent feedback. · In Exhibit 1 of the application, Northeast identifies itself as having a predecessor company which previously held a license to develop a generating facility at the Weare Reservoir Dam in the mid 1980’s · Most do not object to producing hydro-power from the current spillway as long as operation of the lake in its current use is not affected · No modification to the Dam is proposed, and the facility will use presently discharged wastewater · It would be preferable if the Town of Weare and/or the lake residents would receive benefit of the electricity through local use versus wholesale distribution to the grid · The present practice of lowering the lake level should continue to avoid widespread ice damage in the winter · The drawdown policy should be tightly managed to maintain current minimum lake level · While currently planning to drive the turbines with wastewater, the permit allows the applicant to study many different methods of managing the flow rate. No restrictions have been placed on whether the study can address altering the current use of the lake. · The environmental studies proposed are focused on flow rate impacts flora and fauna of the watershed downstream not shoreline residents and upstream habitats · Economic impact analysis to property owners is not explicitly called out
Additional information:
We have not been able to find a web site for Northeast Hydrodevelopment LLC yet. The FERC operates a web site to educate citizens on the filing process, and allow you to search for documents and filings by area graphically or by project. There is a large amount of information for how private citizens can get involved in this process, as well as how the permit process works. Here is the link to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission site: http://www.ferc.gov/for-citizens/for-citizens.asp It is possible to search the FERC directly or use web search engines such as (i.e. Google) to get more information about this project, and others in the state of NH that Northeast has proposed. The LHLC Board will continue to track this as it develops. At this time no contact has yet been established between the LHLC Board and the development company. To assist us we ask that you submit any information you may have on this to either: lakehorace@gmail.com or to one of the committee contacts listed below.
Contacts
Northeast Hydrodevelopment LLC: 100 State Route 101A, Building C, Unit 270, Amherst, NH 03031 (603) 672-8210 -- Attn: Norm Hebert, Manager FERC: John Ramer, (202) 502-8969 LHLC Board Committee: Ray Gagnon, Gagnon.Ray@MyFairpoint.net Thanks, Ray Ray Gagnon, Director, LHLC June 2009 2