Vermont's Winooski River Gets Bureaucratic Hydro Checkup by 2027
Published Date: 5/12/2026
Notice
Summary
Green Mountain Power wants to renew its license for a small hydroelectric project on Vermont’s Winooski River. The government will prepare an environmental check to make sure the project won’t harm the area, with a report ready by February 2027. This process affects local communities and anyone interested in the project’s future, giving them a chance to share their thoughts before the final decision.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
EA (not EIS) for Hydro Relicense
Staff for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission intends to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) — not a full Environmental Impact Statement — for Green Mountain Power’s 8.05-megawatt Essex No. 19 Hydroelectric Project (Project No. 2513) on the Winooski River in Chittenden County, Vermont. The notice says staff does not anticipate the license would be a major Federal action significantly affecting the human environment.
30-Day Public Comment Window
The Environmental Assessment will be issued on February 4, 2027, and circulated for review with a 30-day comment period. All comments filed on the EA will be analyzed by staff and considered in the Commission’s final licensing decision for the Essex No. 19 project.
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