Vermont Town's Secret Hydro Dreams: Comment Before It's Licensed!
Published Date: 3/19/2025
Notice
Summary
The Town of Stowe Electric Department wants to run a small hydroelectric project on the Little River in Vermont and has officially asked for permission without a full license. People living nearby, environmental groups, and energy fans can now share their thoughts or concerns within 60 days. This project could bring cleaner energy to the area, and the government is ready to review all feedback before moving forward.
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
60-Day Public Comment Window
You can file motions to intervene, protests, comments, recommendations, and terms and conditions within 60 days from the issuance date of this notice. Reply comments are due 105 days from the issuance date; the Commission encourages electronic filing and provides eFiling and eComment options.
Scoping Will Be Waived
The Commission intends to waive environmental scoping and expedite the exemption process because pre-filing studies and coordination identified the issues to be addressed. Staff determined no new issues are likely to be identified through additional scoping.
Competing Application Deadlines
Any qualified applicant wanting to file a competing development application must submit the competing application or a notice of intent by the intervention deadline; a timely notice of intent allows filing the competing application up to 120 days after that deadline. Applications for preliminary permits will not be accepted in response to this notice.
Public Recreation Facilities Proposed
The Town proposes to provide three recreation facilities: a hand-carry boat access site on the impoundment shoreline, a hand-carry boat portage route around the dam, and a hand-carry boat and fishing access site downstream of the tailrace.
Project Flow and Minimum Release Rules
The Town proposes to operate the project in run-of-river mode, maintain a normal maximum impoundment elevation of 636.0 feet NAVD 88, and release a continuous minimum flow of 15 cubic feet per second or inflow, whichever is less, over the rubber dam.
Energy Output and Interconnection Facts
The project would use a new 150-kilowatt Kaplan turbine-generator and produce about 410 megawatt-hours of electricity per year, with generation transmitted to the grid via a new underground 0.48 kV generator lead and a 0.48/12.47 kV step-up transformer.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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