Maine Hydro Project Seeks Your Environmental Hot Takes
Published Date: 11/25/2025
Notice
Summary
KEI Power wants to renew their license to keep running the Barker Mill Upper Hydroelectric Project on Maine’s Little Androscoggin River. The government is asking the public to share their thoughts on how this project might affect the environment before deciding. If you care about clean energy or local nature, now’s the time to speak up—comments are due by December 1, 2025.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Planned Fish Passage Measures Listed
The Settlement specifies coordinating time frames for providing upstream and downstream fish passage at the Upper Barker Project for species including American eel, river herring, American shad, sea lamprey, and Atlantic salmon.
Public Scoping Comments Open
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is asking for public comments on the environmental scope for relicensing the Barker Mill Upper Hydroelectric Project. Comments must be received in Washington, DC by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on December 1, 2025, and can be filed electronically through FERC's eFiling or eComment systems.
Agreement to Fund Basin Stewardship
The Settlement includes an off-license agreement to fund an Androscoggin Basin Stewardship Fund administered by the Maine Department of Marine Resources to benefit spawning and rearing habitat in the basin.
Minimum and Seasonal Flows To Be Aligned
The Settlement calls for aligning the minimum and seasonal flows at the Upper Barker and Lower Barker Projects, which could change how the river is operated seasonally.
License Term Alignment and Extension
The Settlement would extend the Lower Barker Project license term to 50 years and requests a license term of 47 years for the Upper Barker Project to align license terms between projects.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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