LIHI Certifies Winooski 8 Hydro Project East Montpelier, VT
Winooski No. 8 Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 6470)
Portland, Maine (October 27, 2011) – At their October 27, 2011 meeting the Low Impact Hydropoer Institute’s Governing Board determined that the Winooski No.8 Hydroelectric Project meets the LIHI Certification Criteria. In reaching its decision to certify the Winooski Hydroelectric Project, the LIHI’s Governing Board reviewed the application for certification, as well as the Application Reviewer’s report. The Board’s vote to certify the Winooski Hydroelectric Project was unanimous, and the Board approves certification for the Winooski Hydroelectric Project for five-years.
The effective certification date for the Winooski Hydroelectric Project is February 28, 2011 and will expire on February 28, 2016. Any Commenter may submit a letter to the Certification Administrator requesting an appeal within 30 days of the posting of the Certification Decision on the Institute’s Web page. An appeal request must include specific reasons why the hydropower facility should have failed one or more criteria. If an individual or organization did not comment on the initial Application Package, they may not file an appeal. During the time the Project is certified, you may market the Winooski Hydroelectric Project facilities as LIHI certified.
Portland, Maine (February 28, 2011) – The Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI) announced today that Winooski Hydroelectric Company has submitted an Application for LIHI Certification for the Winooski No. 8 Hydroelectric Project (“Project” or “Winooski No. 8”). The Project is located in E. Montpelier, Washington County, Vermont, on the site of a dam originally constructed in 1908. Winooski No. 8, also known locally as Montpelier No. 4. is owned by Winooski Hydroelectric Co.
The project was reconstructed in 1985 and has an installed capacity of 930 KW. Annual energy production has averaged 3,500,000 KWH. The intake and powerhouse are an integral structure, housing three submersible adjustable propeller turbines, driving induction generators, together with associated hydraulic, mechanical, electrical and electronic equipment. The Winooski No. 8 Project consists of:
1. Concrete gravity dam 227-feet-long with a maximum height of 26-feet (29.3-feet with flashboards);
2. A seven acre impoundment with a capacity of 34 acre-feet at elevation 613.5 – feet MSL;
3. A 200-foot long 7-foot diameter fiberglass penstock ;
4. A 750-square-foot concrete powerhouse containing three turbines with a combined installed capacity of 930-KW ; and,
6. A 5,000-foot long13-kv transmission line.
The project operates in strict run-of-river mode, utilizing 32’ of gross head between the headwater and average tailwater. The 200’ bypass reach is provided with 25 CFS of minimum flow. The project is served by 199-square miles of Winooski River watershed.
The powerhouse is constructed of reinforced concrete to the 500 year flood elevation. A pad mounted transformer connects the station to 3-phase 13KV electrical service.
Public Comment - We encourage public comments on this application. Specifically, we are interested in knowing whether you think this project meets our LIHI criteria. Review the program and criteria in greater detail and then review the Project’s 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 "Winooski No. 8 Hydropower Project 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 18, 2011 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.
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