34 Providence Street
Portland, ME 04103
Tel. (207) 773-8190 · Fax (206) 984-3086
www.lowimpacthydro.org
Notice of Certification Application Filing
Stillwater (FERC No. 2712) , Orono (FERC No. 2710) and Medway (FERC No. 2666)
Portland, Maine (June 1, 2010) – The Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI) announced today that Black Bear Hydro Partners (“Applicant” or “BBHP”) has submitted applications for certification of three hydro projects: Stillwater, Orono, and Medway.
Overview and Background
These three hydroelectric projects are components of the Penobscot River Restoration Agreement. The overall intent of the Agreement is to provide enhancements to the Penobscot River’s environmental resources, and lower and minimize the influence of BBHP’s hydroelectric projects on those resources while maintaining the levels of renewable hydropower generation from the river. This Project is one of the largest river restoration projects in our nation's history. In an unprecedented collaboration, a diverse group of stakeholders are working together to restore 11 species of sea-run fish to the Penobscot River, while maintaining energy production. Successful implementation of the project will revive not only native fisheries but social, cultural and economic traditions of New England's second largest river- the Penobscot. Brief summaries of each of these projects follow, but for a more detailed project description go to the LIHI web site and locate the Project page under “Pending Applications.”
Stillwater Hydroelectric Project
The Stillwater Hydroelectric Project is a run-of-river facility located on the Stillwater Branch of the Penobscot River in Old Town, Maine with a generating capacity of 1.95 MW. The Stillwater Project began commercial operations in 1913. The Stillwater Project's principal features are a 1,720 foot long dam, consisting of 13 sections, a concrete and wood powerhouse, a 3.1 mile long impoundment with a surface area of 300 acres. The existing project has an installed capacity of 1.95 MW and an average annual generation of about 13.1 gigawatt hours (GWh). The maximum hydraulic capacity of the Stillwater Project is 1,700 cubic feet per second (cfs). Flows in the Stillwater Branch exceed the maximum hydraulic capacity of the project 60 percent of the time.
Orono Hydroelectric Project
The Orono Hydroelectric Project is a run-of-river hydroelectric generating facility located on the Stillwater Branch of the Penobscot River in Orono, Maine with a gross nameplate generating capacity of 2.78 MW. The Orono Project commenced initial commercial operations in 1949, but stopped operating in 1996 due to catastrophic failure of the facility’s penstock which caused the project to be shut down. After the Federal Energy Commission issued a new license for the Orono Project on December 8, 2005, the Orono Project was refurbished and thereafter began commercial operation of the first two units on January 11, 2009, and the other two units on March 3, 2009. The Orono Project consists of the following facilities: (1) a 1,178-foot-long by 15-foot-high dam with a 320-foot-long spillway topped with 2.4-foot-high flashboards; (2) a 2.3-mile-long reservoir, with a surface area of 175 acres at the normal full pond; (3) three new 10-foot-diameter penstocks; (4) a 40-foot-wide, 94-foot-long and 27-foot-high surge tank; (5) a powerhouse with four existing generating units with a total installed generating capacity of 2.332 MW; (6) three existing 325-foot-long transmission lines.
Medway Hydroelectric Project
The Medway Hydroelectric Project is a run-of-river hydroelectric generating facility located on the West Branch of the Penobscot River in Medway, Maine with a gross nameplate generating capacity of 3.44 MW. The Medway Project commenced initial commercial operations in 1923. The Medway Project generates renewable electricity while providing recreational opportunities (portage trail and boat launch), fish passage measures, consistent water levels that enhance habitats for waterfowl, etc., and substantial support of the local community through stable property tax payments, reliable voltage support of the electrical distribution system, etc.
The Medway Project consists of a 343-foot-long concrete gravity dam surmounted by flashboards, a 64-foot-long concrete gravity forebay wall, a 120-acre impoundment, a powerhouse containing five generating units with a total installed capacity of 3.44 MW, an approximate 144-foot-long underground transmission line, and appurtenant facilities.
Pursuant to the Lower Penobscot Agreement, BBHP plans to add an additional 700 KW generating unit to the existing Medway Project Powerhouse and increasing the normal reservoir impoundment by one foot.
PUBLIC COMMENT
We encourage public comments on each of these applications. Specifically, we are interested in knowing whether you think these Projects meet our LIHI criteria. Review the program and criteria in greater detail and then review the Project or Projects that you have an interest in. Your comments that are directly tied to specific LIHI criteria (flows, water quality, fish passage, etc) will be most helpful, but all comments will be considered.
Comments may be submitted to the Institute by e-mail (preferred) at with " Stillwater Comments”, “Medway Comments” and/or “Orono Project comments" in the subject line; by fax at (206) – 984-3086; or by mail addressed to LIHI, 34 Providence Street, Portland, ME, 04103. Comments must be received at the Institute on or before 5 pm Eastern time on August 1, 2010 to be considered. All comments will be posted to the web site and the applicant will have an opportunity to respond. Any response will also be posted.