Portland, Maine (May 14, 2010) – The Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI) announced today that Holyoke Gas and Electric Department ("Applicant" or "HG&E") has submitted an application for certification of the HG&E Hydroelectric System. Formed in 1902, HG&E is a municipally owned utility that provides electricity, natural gas, district steam, and fiber optic Internet services to over 18,000 customers in Holyoke Massachusetts.

Prior to 2001 HG&E owned a small number of Hydro stations located on the Holyoke Canal -- a three tiered canal system that was originally built to provide process water to manufacturing facilities throughout the city. In 2001 HG&E purchased the Holyoke Project which includes the Hadley Falls Station on the Connecticut River, and five more stations on the Holyoke Canal. Since 2001 HG&E has continued to purchase additional stations on the canal.

The current hydro system includes seventeen developments under twelve separate FERC licenses. Hadley Falls is the only facility that has a dam and an impoundment. The remaining stations are located on the Holyoke Canal, which utilizes the head created by the Hadley Falls dam, and flow diverted from the Connecticut River at the dam.

The HG&E Hydroelectric System is operated in a Run-of-River (ROR) mode in compliance with numerous flow requirements established under the Settlement and Amended License. In addition to ROR operations, the HG&E system is operated under specific flow prioritization requirements, and provides bypass reach flows, canal flows, and fish passage flows. In addition, there is a low flow contingency plan for system operations.

The Holyoke Dam is the first dam encountered by fish migrating up the Connecticut River to spawn. Providing safe and adequate passage has been a priority at the Holyoke Project since the late 1800s. Several fish passage ladders were installed between the mid 1800s and the mid-1900s. In 1955 the first fishlift was constructed at the Project. The fish passage facilities have undergone substantial modifications and improvements since that time. Today, the project provides passage for migratory fish in the Holyoke Project area.

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 " Holyoke Comments and the appropriate FERC No." 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 July 14, 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. More detailed Project Information can be obtained at LIHI's web site under "Pending Applications"