Massachusetts Water Resource Authority files for LIHI Certification for the Cosgrove Hydro Project (FERC No. 10688)

Portland, Maine (April 14, 2010) – The Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI) announced today that the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority ("Applicant" or "MWRA") has submitted an application for certification of the Oakdale Hydro project. The Applicant received Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC") exemption from the requirements of Part I of the Federal Power Act (FPA) for the project.

Cosgrove Hydro (FERC No.10688): The Cosgrove hydroelectric facility is located at the Cosgrove intake. The Cosgrove Intake and hydroelectric facility regulates the flow of water from the Wachusett Reservoir into the Cosgrove Aqueduct, which is an important transmission leg in the supply of water to the Boston Metropolitan area. There are two sections, the North and South intakes, and both intakes include a hydraulic turbine and two bypass lines. Each intake has three channels with traveling water screens. Each intake also has an upper intake sluice gate and lower intake sluice gate that allow operational flexibility to draw water from different levels of the reservoir. On the North intake, after this sluice gate, the water enters a common wet-well and from the wet well, flow is directed to either the turbine generator 1, bypass line 1 or bypass line 2 or a combination. Each of the bypass lines contains a sleeve valve, which is designed to regulate flows to the water supply transmission system over a range of flows. The configuration of the South intake parallels the North intake and flows entering the South intake are directed to either turbine generator 2, or bypass line 3 or bypass line 4.

Turbines are vertically oriented, full Kaplan type with six adjustable runner blades. The turbine generators were put into operation in 1969, and were recently rehabilitated and upgraded. These upgrades were necessary to integrate the turbines operation with a newly configured water supply system. The hydroelectric facility now operates at a head of approximately 55 feet, which flows through each turbine varying from 60 mgd to 280 mgd. Maximum output of each of the turbines is between 1000-1200 kW. Average annual power generation is 3 Gigawatt hours. Electricity is used on site as well as exported to the electrical grid (National Grid).

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 info@lowimpacthydro.org with " Cosgrove 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 June 14, 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.