Hydro Licensees Miss Deadline, FERC Opens Bidding for California Project
Published Date: 7/21/2025
Notice
Summary
Joe Vavuris and Ryan Wiegel, who run the Cornwell Hydroelectric Project in California, missed the deadline to say if they want to keep their license after it expires in 2030. Because of this slip-up, they can’t apply for a new license later, and the Commission is now asking anyone interested to step up and file their intentions soon. This could shake up who runs the project next and when decisions happen.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Current Licensees Barred From Reapplying
The current licensees, Joe Vavuris and Ryan Wiegel, failed to file the required notice of intent by the close of business on April 30, 2025. Because they missed that deadline, they may not file an application for a subsequent license for the Cornwell Hydroelectric Project after the current license expires on April 30, 2030.
Commission Invites New Applicants to File
The Commission set a deadline of 120 days from the date of this notice for any party other than the existing licensee to file a notice of intent (NOI), a pre-application document (PAD), and any request to use an alternative licensing process. Interested potential applicants must file those documents within that 120-day window to pursue the Cornwell Project license.
Firm Application Deadline: April 30, 2028
Any application for a subsequent license must be filed at least 24 months before the current license expires; because the license expires April 30, 2030, applications must be filed by April 30, 2028. Potential applicants must meet that filing deadline to be considered for the license.
Accelerated ILP Process Plan Within 180 Days
If an interested applicant files an NOI and PAD and elects or is required to use the Commission's Integrated Licensing Process (ILP), a process plan will be issued within 180 days of this notice to accelerate ILP steps so a subsequent license application can be filed by April 30, 2028. The accelerated plan aims to compress pre-filing steps to meet the filing deadline.
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