Environmental Considerations

Environmental Considerations

And how they may affect the role of hydro in New England’s energy

future

Tim Brush and Jen StoneNormandeau Associates

Westmoreland, NH

Outline• Waterpower Technologies• Facts of the Matter• Typical Environmental Issues• Regulatory Drivers• Some Specifics• Bottom Line

Waterpower TechnologiesConventional Hydropower

•Dam•Head•Turbines•Spillway

Pumped Storage•Upper and lower reservoirs•Pumps/turbines•A twist, but high value

Waterpower Technologies

Hydrokinetic•Tidal/Wave/Lock•Velocity component of Bernoulli’s equation•Small energy output relative to conventional because of no head (except for lock application)•Value in use of arrays and as components of meeting Renewable Portfolio Standards

Waterpower Technologies

• We have impacted our landscape in many ways, including virtually all rivers

• We cannot revert to “pristine” condition• Dam removal – many should go but…• Cost of compliance with agencies and special

interest demands very high – costs come back to you

• Ancillary benefits of hydro – no other industry compares

Facts of the Matter

• 23,000 MW could be developed by 2025 without building a single new dam

• In many (if not most) cases, fish restoration targets are overly optimistic

• Licensing/Relicensing Costs, Time, and Uncertainty

…Facts of the Matter

Typical Environmental Issues

• Instream Flow• Recreation• Connectivity• Water Level Fluctuations• Endangered Species• Non-native Species• Special Interests

Regulatory Drivers

• Federal Power Act• Endangered Species Act• Clean Water Act• Magnuson Stevens Act• States law• Others

Regulatory Drivers• Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

(FERC)– FPA Section 18– CWA Section 401– Licensing/Relicensing Process– PM&E’s– Special Interest Groups– Years to complete process

Some Specifics

• Instream Flow

Some Specifics

• Connectivity – Migratory Fish

Some Specifics

• Fish Passage

Other Limiting Factors

•Non-native Species•Contaminants•Water Quality•Watershed Development

Some Specifics

Bottom Line

• Technically - waterpower technologies could be implemented in short order

• 23,000 MW without any new dams!• There are new incentives to help achieve this

but many obstacles remain• From an environmental perspective, it’s my

opinion that this is a ‘no brainer’

Thank you

Tim BrushNormandeau Associateswww.normandeau.com