First Hydro Project to be certified as Low impact will not seek Re-Certification and ends Ten-Year run as a Low Impact Certified Hydro

PORTLAND, ME – (May 12, 2011) – The Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI) announced today that the Upper Yampa Water Conservancy District has decided not to seek renewal of their  Stagecoach Project LIHI Low Impact Certification. The Stagecoach Project (FERC No. 9202) is located on the Yampa River in Colorado and the facility produces 5,400,000 kilowatt-hours of energy annually, which is enough to power approximately 500 homes.  The Stagecoach Project was originally certified by LIHI in 2001 and was the first hydro project to be certified under LIHI's  Low Impact Certification Program. That original certification which had a five-year term expired in 2006 the re-certification, which is also five years, expired in early 2011. We expect to receive more information on the District's decision to not file for re-certification.  When we do we will update this story.