LIHI Certificate #13- Hoosic River Project, Hoosic River, New York , (FERC #2616)

Brookfield Power Receives Re-Certification From Low Impact Hydropower Institute for Hydropower Facilities On the Hoosic River

Portland, Maine (April 15, 2010) - The Institute's Governing Board has determined that the Hoosic River Project, FERC No. 2616, continues to meet the Low Impact Hydropower Certification Criteria.

In reaching its decision to certify the Hoosic River Project, the Low Impact Hydropower Institute's Governing Board reviewed the application for certification, as well as the Application Reviewer's report. Both the Staff and Application Reviewer recommended certification, however the Institute's decision on re-certification should be held in abeyance until USFWS has confirmed that upstream eel passage at Johnsonville Project is working as required, and FERC officially has so found. Certification prior to this occurring may appear to reward Brookfield for its less-than-aggressive past efforts to address an issue that was an important part of the settlement, and its failure to make a timely filing with FERC on an important natural resource issue. Once this issue is satisfactorily resolved, re-certification is recommended.

On March 12, 2010, LIHI received the materials Brookfield submitted to FERC which describe Brookfield's commitment this spring and prior to eel migration season, to relocate the attraction flow discharge on the eel passage as requested by USFWS. After LIHI review, we believe this information confirms that agreement has been reached with the USFWS regarding the attraction flow. This corrects the situation to LIHI's satisfaction.

The Board's vote to re-certify the Hoosic River Project as a Low Impact facility was unanimous. There were no public comments on the application, and therefore no party eligible to appeal the facility's certification. Certification is effective July 9, 2009 and is valid for five years and will expire July 9, 2014. Copies of the Application Reviewer's report are available on the LIHI website.

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CERTIFICATION DECISION - 2004

On October 21, 2004 the Institute's Governing Board determined that the Hoosic River Project, FERC No. 2616, meets the Low Impact Hydropower Certification Criteria.

In reaching its decision to certify the Hoosic River Project, the Low Impact Hydropower Institute's Governing Board reviewed the application for certification, as well as the Application Reviewer's report and the Staff report. Both the Staff and Application Reviewer recommended certification.

During its review of the Hoosic application, the Board noted that the habitat conditions in the project impoundment above the Schaghticoke dam favor an existing infestation of water chestnut, and possibly other invasive aquatic plants. While this issue was not raised by NYSDEC, it was noted that the problem with water chestnut could lead to local water quality degradation, specifically low dissolved oxygen. The Board noted that this issue should be monitored, and appropriate actions taken by the project owner to manage the plant population to prevent localized water quality problems.

The Board's vote to certify the Hoosic River Project as a Low Impact facility was unanimous. There were no public commenters on the application, and therefore no party eligible to appeal the facility's certification. Certification is effective July 9, 2004 and is valid for five years and will expire July 9, 2009.

In reaching its decision to certify the Hoosic River Project, the Low Impact Hydropower Institute's Governing Board reviewed the application for certification, as well as the Application Reviewer's report and the Staff report. Both the Staff and Application Reviewer recommended certification. Copies of both the staff report and the Application Reviewer's are available on the LIHI website. During its review of the Hoosic application, the Board noted that the habitat conditions in the project impoundment above the Schaghticoke dam favor an existing infestation of water chestnut, and possibly other invasive aquatic plants. While this issue was not raised by NYSDEC, it was noted that the problem with water chestnut could lead to local water quality degradation, specifically low dissolved oxygen. The Board noted that this issue should be monitored, and appropriate actions taken by the project owner to manage the plant population to prevent localized water quality problems. The Board's vote to certify the Hoosic River Project as a Low Impact facility was unanimous. There were no public commenters on the application, and therefore no party eligible to appeal the facility's certification. Certification is effective July 9, 2004 and is valid for five years and will expire July 9, 2009. During the time the Hoosic River Project is certified as low impact, you may market the Hoosic River Project facilities as a certified Low Impact Hydropower facility. Certification by the Institute also makes the power produced from the HoosicRiver facility eligible for other "green" power certification programs.

SUMMARY

Facility location: Hoosic River, New York

Installed capacity: 18.5 MW total from 2 individual facilities (Johnsonville at 2.1 MW and Schaghticoke at 16.4 MW)

Average annual generation: 82,900 megawatt hours

FERC license: No. 2616 was issued in 2002. The Project was relicensed via a collaboratively developed agreement.

Applicant: Brascan Power New York

Applicant contact: Mr. Sam S. Hirschey, P.E., telephone (315) 413-2790

Date application posted to website: July 9, 2004

Date public comment period closed: September 9, 2004

Effective certification date: July 9, 2004

Date certification expires: July 9, 2009

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