February 25, 2009 - Tallassee Shoals LLC files for Re-Certification of the Tallassee Shoals Project , MIddle Oconee River, near Athens, Georgia

 

 

Notice of Re-Certification Application Filing
 
Tallassee Shoals Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 6951)
 
Portland, Maine (February 25, 2009) – The Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI) announced today that the Tallassee LLC. (“Applicant ”)  has submitted an application for re-certification of  the Tallassee Shoals Hydroelectric Project.  The Project received its initial Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI) certification on July 22, 2004.  
 
The run-of-river Project is located on the Middle Oconee River, near Athens, Georgia. The plant is equipped with two turbine/generators; a fixed Kaplan 100 KW unit installed within the dam and an adjustable Kaplan 2.3 MW unit located several hundreds yards downstream. The large turbine is of typical construction with a headrace, penstock, and tailrace.
 
The project consists of: a concrete dam; a 1,400-foot long and 20-foot wide headrace and 2 eight-foot diameter penstocks (60 and 100 feet long, respectively); a powerhouse with 2 generating units with a combined installed capacity of 2.3 MW, and a 750 foot tailrace. The bypass reach is 2,100 feet long. The reservoir’s surface area is 37 acres at the normal operating pool level of 645 feet above mean sea level, and its official storage capacity is 350 acre-feet. The project was built in 1984-85 and began operation in 1986; it was constructed against the existing face of an old dam built in 1902 and retired in 1964. However, the facility ceased operations in early 2000 while under the ownership of the original licenseedue to mechanical problems with the turbines.
 
 
Tallassee LLC who acquired the facility in January 2009 is currently focused on upgrading and repairing the generating units. The 100 KW unit is in the process of being rebuilt and is scheduled to be online in 4 to 8 weeks. In the interim, the 58 cfs flow required between dam and tailrace is insured by maintaining a minimum of 1" of flow over the dam.  This process is computer controlled. The 2.3 MW turbine is operational but limited to 500 KW output as the runner blade adjusting hardware is not functional. Repair will be performed during the summer low flow months.
 
PUBLIC COMMENT
 
We encourage public comments on this application. Specifically, we are interested in knowing whether you think the Tallassee Shoals Project meets our LIHI criteria. Review the program and criteria in greater detail and then review the Tallassee Shoals Project application. 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  info@lowimpacthydro.org with " Tallassee Shoals 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 April 25, 2009 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.
 

For further information about the Tallassee Shoals Project , or any of the other projects certified as Low Impact, please contact Fred Ayer, LIHI Executive Director at (207) 773-8190, or visit the LIHI website at www.lowimpacthydro.org. LIHI is a nonprofit organization that certifies environmentally low impact hydropower facilities nationwide to help energy consumers, and to support market incentives for reducing the effects of hydropower dams on the nation’s rivers and streams. 
 
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