Purpose
Licensing of privately-owned hydropower projects on federal infrastructure and property within the St. Paul District.
Location
Projects are located at several lock and dam structures within the St. Paul District.
Description
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issues licenses granting rights to develop and maintain hydropower facilities on federal infrastructure. The lock and dam system on the upper Mississippi River within the St. Paul District boundaries is especially sought after for new hydropower opportunities. The most recent proposed project, by a private firm called Crown Hydro, was for an operations building housing two 1.7-megawatt turbines discharging into the Mississippi River to be located behind the upper guide wall of the Upper St. Anthony Falls lock.
Status
On April 17, 2020, the commission issued a rejection of Crown Hydro’s project financing plan and dismissal of Crown Hydro's amended license application. In August 2020, the commission denied a request for a rehearing. In October 2020, Crown Hydro filed an appeal to the District of Columbia circuit court. Friends of the Falls filed a motion for termination in January 2021. The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, city of Minneapolis, Friends of the Riverfront, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources subsequently filed comments in support of the motion for termination. Friends of the Falls renewed their motion for termination on Jan. 13, 2022. No other actions have been documented on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission website. No new license requests have been received by the St. Paul District since the termination of the Crown Hydro request.
Authority
The licensing of hydropower facilities by FERC is governed by Part I of the Federal Power Act, 16 U.S. Code 791(a)–825(r). Coordination between FERC and USACE regarding FERC licensing of hydropower at USACE facilities is also governed by a July 20, 2016, memorandum of agreement between the agencies.
Funding
A fixed sum, generally $5,000 per year, is funded under the investigations account for FERC-related administrative activities and permit review. More in-depth activities such as prelicensing, coordination during construction and relicensing are funded under the Operation and Maintenance Program. Some of these costs are reimbursable by the licensee to the U.S. Treasury Department through annual charges by FERC.