One Drop Hydro Drips into Rhode Island River Licensing
Published Date: 6/26/2025
Notice
Summary
One Drop Hydro, LLC just applied for a new license to build a small hydroelectric project on the Blackstone River in Rhode Island. This means local communities and environmental groups have until August 11, 2025, to ask for extra studies or get involved before the project moves forward. The process could bring clean energy but also needs careful review to protect the river and surrounding areas.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Deadline to Request Extra Studies
If you are a local resident, resource agency, Tribal government, or environmental group, you have until 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on August 11, 2025 to file a request with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission asking for additional scientific studies or to request cooperating-agency status for the Elizabeth Webbing Falls Hydroelectric Project (P-15041). Cooperating agencies should note the Commission’s policy that agencies that cooperate on the environmental document cannot also intervene.
New Small Hydropower Added to Grid
One Drop Hydro proposes the Elizabeth Webbing Falls project in Providence County, Rhode Island that would operate in run-of-river mode and produce an estimated 3,400 megawatt-hours per year using an existing 0.7 megawatt generator and a new 400-foot transmission line to Rhode Island Energy's distribution system. The applicant filed the license application on June 10, 2025 (Project No. 15041-002).
Required Environmental Measures Proposed
The applicant proposes environmental protections including operating the project in run-of-river mode, releasing a continuous minimum flow of 250 cubic feet per second (or inflow, whichever is less) to the bypassed reach, installing a volitional eel passage ramp at the spillway, installing downstream and upstream fish passage when necessary, and implementing a northern long-eared bat protection plan.
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Key Dates
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