FERC staff on Oct. 30 issued the final environmental assessment for a proposed 5 MW pumped-storage hydro project on the Columbia River, concluding its potential environmental impacts, with "appropriate" protective measures, would not "significantly affect the quality of the human environment." Read More
FERC issued guidance on Oct. 17 for developing closed-loop pumped-storage facilities at abandoned mine sites. Read More
The Trump administration finalized repeal of the 2015 "Waters of the U.S." rule effective Dec. 23, reverting to previous regulations, according to a Federal Register notice EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers published Oct. 22. Read More
Energy secretary nominee Dan Brouillette has promised to keep BPA privatization proposals "off the table," Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said at Brouillette's Nov. 14 confirmation hearing before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. "Privatizing Bonneville Power would hit the Pacific … Read More
The existing Western EIM is set to grow with the announcement that a couple of new members intend to join in April 2021, but a proposal for a similar regional balancing market by the Southwest Power Pool is also drawing interest. Read More
The Southwest Power Pool on Sept. 9 announced commitments by three regional utilities to join its Western Energy Imbalance Service Market as charter participants. Read More
BPA moved a step closer to joining the Western EIM on Sept. 26, by signing an implementation agreement with the California ISO that will allow the agency to further consider participating in the market. Read More
New bidding rules for hydro resources in the Western EIM took effect in October, after federal energy regulators partially approved a proposal by the California ISO. Read More
Two Pacific Northwest tribes on Oct. 14 called for removal of three hydroelectric dams on the lower Columbia River to boost salmon populations and help feed struggling orcas. Read More
"The technology itself is ready to be deployed," Vince Bryan, CEO of Whooshh Technologies, told a crowd of about 100 people who gathered to see the company's fish passage system in operation at the base of Chief Joseph Dam. Read More
Energy agencies are hearing more requests to determine what will and will not count as a "zero-carbon energy resource" under one of California's most pressing carbon-reduction measures, Senate Bill 100. Read More
Four consulting firms have been hired by Washington Gov. Jay Inslee's office to gather views on whether removing the lower Snake River dams could recover Chinook populations vital to southern resident killer whales, and to put together a draft report by December. Read More
Federal funds apportioned since 2015 to the four Northwest states to help keep quagga and zebra mussels out of the Columbia Basin are now at risk of being diluted, after Congress added four more basins spanning another 11 states, without increasing the total appropriation. Read More
A special report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that focuses on changes in the ocean and cryosphere—the frozen parts of the planet—includes a closer look at predicted impacts to hydropower around the globe. Read More
A group of scientists is pushing to breach the four lower Snake River dams, based on increasing water temperatures and concerns climate change will compound the problem. Read More
Concerned parties have weighed in on a request by two environmental groups for the U.S. Supreme Court to review an appeals court decision that struck down the routine practice of withdrawing and resubmitting state water quality certifications for projects seeking a federal license. Read More
FERC on Oct. 17 denied the California State Water Resources Control Board's request for rehearing of the commission's earlier decision regarding recertification of the Middle Fork American River Hydroelectric Project. Read More
FERC on Sept. 19 rejected requests to stay and rehear its decision giving more time to the 1.3 GW Eagle Mountain pumped storage hydro project planned for Riverside County, Calif., near Joshua Tree National Park. Read More
The California PUC at its Oct. 10 meeting unanimously approved the sale of two small Pacific Gas & Electric hydroelectric projects. Read More
Portland-based Pacific Ocean Energy Trust (POET) was selected by the U.S. DOE to be network director for the $10 million Testing Expertise and Access for Marine Energy Research (TEAMER) program, the agency announced Sept. 17. Read More
The Department of Energy awarded up to $24.9 million in research funds Oct. 31 for low-head hydropower, in-stream hydrokinetics, and river-current and wave energy technologies. Read More
