PG&E's Fresno Hydro Project Triggers Eco Assessment
Published Date: 8/12/2025
Notice
Summary
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) wants to renew its license for the Helms Pumped Storage Project near Fresno, California, which uses lots of federal land. The government will prepare an Environmental Assessment to check if the project affects the environment before deciding. This process invites public input and could change how much land PG&E uses, with updates coming soon.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
You can comment on the EA
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will issue an Environmental Assessment (EA) for PG&E's Helms Pumped Storage Project on June 17, 2026. When the EA is issued it will be open for a 30-day comment period, and the Commission's Office of Public Participation can help landowners, community organizations, Tribal members, and others file interventions or comments.
Project federal land footprint changes
The existing Helms Project occupies 3,346.6 acres of U.S. Forest Service land, 28.36 acres managed by the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), and 0.07 acres managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). As proposed in the relicense application, the project would occupy 458.9 fewer acres of Forest Service land, an additional 0.14 acre of BOR-managed land, and an additional 2.15 acres of BOR-managed land.
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Key Dates
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