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  Hydrokinetic News

Colorado cuts red tape for small hydropower projects

Small hydropower projects offer a significant amount of power generating capacity in Colorado

The permitting process for small hydropower projects in Colorado is being made a little easier, under an agreement between state officials and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Colorado has several hundred sites with a potential of five megawatts of less in hydropower capacity, which state officials believe could provide as much as 1,400MW capacity in total.

This would be enough power to supply more than 700,000 homes with clean electricity.

However, the lengthy permitting process has been a major block for projects so far, with only 24 receiving an exemption permit from FERC in the last three decades.

Colorado Governor Bill Ritter signed the deal with FERC to “considerably” streamline the process, intending to cut the time and costs required to develop small hydropower projects while protecting the environment.

Gov. Ritter said: “Colorado has enormous potential to produce more clean energy from small-scale hydroelectric power. These projects can create local jobs, diversify our energy supplies, reduce emissions and further bolster our energy security.”

Simplify

Small hydro projects that could take advantage of the move might include projects in existing dams, ditches, canals and pipelines, which would avoid additional diversions from Colorado streams.

The agreement will simplify and shorten the process to obtain a permit, officials said.

A team of renewable energy experts – called the Renewable Energy Development Team – will be made available by the Governor’s Energy Office to help project developers to get through the FERC permitting process.

Developers will be able to apply via the GEO website from this fall.

“I am proud that Colorado continues to be a leader in the clean energy economy. This agreement will not only create more jobs, but will generate a new source of renewable energy to power our state that will ultimately limit our reliance on foreign oil,” U.S. Sen. Mark Udall said. “The cooperation between our state and federal government demonstrates what a powerful team we can be when we join forces.”