LIHI Certificate #67 - (FERC No. (2712) Stillwater Hydroelectric Project, Penobscot River, Maine
Portland, Maine (January 28, 2011) - At LIHI’s January 26, 2011 meeting, the Institute’s Governing Board determined that the Stillwater Hydroelectric Project meets the LIHI Certification Criteria. An original LIHI certificate will be forwarded to you once the Governing Board Chair and Secretary have executed it.
In reaching its decision to certify the Stillwater Hydroelectric Project, the Low Impact Hydropower Institute’s Governing Board reviewed the application for certification, as well as the Application Reviewer’s report and recommendations. The Board’s vote to certify the Stillwater Hydroelectric Project was unanimous. LIHI certification for the Stillwater Hydroelectric Project is granted for 5-year term beginning on June 1, 2010 and expiring on June 1, 2015. The Board approves certification for the Stillwater Hydroelectric Project for five-years with the following project specific conditions:
• This certification review is based on the presumption that the final transfer of the Great Works, Veazie and Howland Projects will occur, and the fish passage protection provisions associated with that option of the Settlement Agreement will be implemented. Should the transfer not take place, and if LIHI certification is still desired, than reanalysis of the Stillwater Project against LIHI certification criteria, incorporating thesealternative fish passage provisions must be requested / performed.
• As the installation of the new fish passage bypasses, and the potential requirement for two-week unit shutdowns to enhance downstream eel passage, will be triggered upon final closure on transfer of the Great Works, Veazie and Howland Projects to the PPRT, which is expected to occur within the term of LIHI certification, future annual status of compliance reports to LIHI must include appropriate documentation to demonstrate compliance with these requirements, in addition to other standard status reporting requirements.
• BBHP shall provide LIHI, evidence of the agencies' approval of the Species Protection Plan currently under development for the Atlantic salmon and shortnose sturgeon. This submission shall be made in timely compliance with agency approval, and in agreement with agency timelines, but no later than the date of removal of the downstream dams subject to the Settlement Agreement. Also, LIHI shall be provided a copy of any documentation required of BBHP for agency submission, confirming that required compliance activities under the Plan for the Stillwater project are being met.
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Portland, Maine (June 2, 2010) – The Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI) announced today that Black Bear Hydro Partners ("Applicant" or "BBHP") has submitted an application for certification of the Stillwater Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 2712).
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.
The Stillwater hydroelectric project is a component 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 restoration effort 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.
On June 25, 2004, PPL Maine LLC (predecessor to BBHP) filed an application to amend its license for the Stillwater Project No. 2712 located on the Stillwater Branch in Penobscot County, Maine. The proposed amendment to article 401 would increase the reservoir elevation by one foot, while the proposed amendment to article 402 would reduce the required minimum flows in both the east and west bypassed channels. The proposed amendments to Articles 406, 407, and 408 would extend deadlines relating to the installation of upstream and downstream fish passage facilities. The proposed amendment to Article 409 substitutes a new reservation of authority to prescribe fishways under section 18 of the Federal Power Act. The proposed addition of a new license article would require the license to develop a contingent mitigation fund. These amendments are components of a comprehensive settlement agreement which will contribute to the fishery restoration program in the Penobscot Basin and provide for the generation of significant amounts of electric power at the hydroelectric projects covered by the agreement.
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. For a more detailed project description or other information on the project go to the bottom of this page and click on a link and either download or read the documents
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 " Stillwater 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 2, 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.
FERCStillwaterlicense.pdf
LIHIbackgroundinfo5-10.pdf
LIHI-StillwaterProjectDescription.pdf
LIHI-SWquestionnaire.pdf
NoticeofApplicationPenobscot6-2-2010.doc
SPPdevelopmentconfirmation.pdf
StillwaterExhbitG(6-2006).pdf
SWFERCLicense.pdf