In separate filings, the Upper Snake River Tribes Foundation, the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Indian Reservation, and the Nez Perce Tribe asked FERC to complete a supplemental EIS for relicensing Idaho Power's Hells Canyon Complex [P-1971]. Read More
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The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has discovered a record 25 vessels carrying invasive aquatic mussels into the state as a result of inspecting more than 32,000 watercraft at two highway check stations through November 2020. Read More
The U.S. Department of Energy reported in December that a California company has developed a turbine for small hydropower projects that enables juvenile fish to pass through with 100 percent survival, according to preliminary results of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory tests. Read More
John Hairston was named the 16th administrator and CEO of BPA and the first person of color to lead the agency in its 84-year history, the U.S. Department of Energy announced Jan. 7. Hairston's ascent to administrator and CEO—after Elliot Mainzer departed to helm the California ISO—caps a 29… Read More
The Public Power Council claims the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers violated federal laws when it decided to turn off turbines at Detroit Dam during critical power generation hours this winter. Read More
A minor provision in a major spending bill that passed Congress Dec. 21 and was later signed into law may be the first step in removing power generation from federal obligations at three of the Willamette Valley Project's 13 dams. Read More
After learning about the successful operations at eight Columbia River System dams under a flexible spill agreement for the past two years, two members of the Northwest Power and Conservation Council praised the effort, while another asked about Oregon's intent to sue federal agencies despit… Read More
White House efforts to advance a project raising Shasta Dam by 18.5 feet stalled when provisions for construction funds were stripped from an omnibus appropriations bill President Donald Trump signed in December. Read More
A plan to raise the crest of Anderson Ranch Dam in Idaho by 6 feet was deemed feasible by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which sent a final report with the finding to Congress on Dec. 9 for authorization. Read More
Pacific Gas & Electric completed the sale of its Kern Canyon hydroelectric project to Kern and Tule Hydro Dec. 29; the sale was approved in September by the California PUC, and FERC approved the license transfer in October. Read More
New sensor technology and predictive models employing machine-learning methods under development by Chelan County PUD already are showing how they can reduce forced outages and unnecessary maintenance for the utility's hydropower fleet. One tool already is in beta testing, while others are i… Read More
Three Northwest congressmen introduced a resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives Dec. 9 calling on President Donald Trump to immediately terminate power provisions of the Columbia River Treaty. Read More
PacifiCorp on Jan. 13 filed a joint application with FERC to transfer its operating license of four lower Klamath dams, adding the states of Oregon and California as co-holders, along with the Klamath River Renewal Corporation [P-14803]. Read More