DESCRIPTION

Over the term of a license, licensees must conduct routine operations and maintenance activities and safety improvements to preserve existing hydropower projects and often propose efficiency upgrades, changes to project design, or added capacity to maximize utilization of water resources. When do these changes require a license amendment and what are the compliance requirements for these amendments? There has been growing discussion on what triggers a license amendment and FERC’s interpretation of its regulations. The formal licensing amendment process can be a resource intensive, costly, and lengthy process requiring three-stage consultation, public comment and environmental analysis. Amendment requirements can delay important project maintenance and improvements that protect and optimize the value of existing hydropower assets.
 
This panel will discuss challenges licensees have encountered over the last 5 years and how that differs from years prior. Participants will gain an understanding of the regulatory framework that guides the compliance and amendment processes and learn about proposed hydropower reform intended to provide certainty in defining non-substantial work and streamline the amendment process.

This session is part of the Regulatory and Policy Track. 

This session is a 201 level session for those looking for expert level knowledge or wanting a deeper understanding of this subject matter. 

Why you Should Attend: Coming Soon

Moderator:
Betsy McGregor, Kleinschmidt Associates

Panelists:

• Wayne Dyok, H2O EcoPower
• Chuck Sensiba, Troutman Pepper
• Ross Hendrick, Grant County PUD
• Shelly Adams, Seattle City Light

Panelists Bios:

• Coming Soon