Welcome to our new blog about the Yadkin Project Relicensing. This forum is another way for you to stay informed about the federal relicensing of the hydroelectric project owned and operated by Alcoa Power Generating Inc. (APGI) along the Yadkin River in central North Carolina.
There is plenty of background information available at www.alcoa.com/yadkin but here is a quick summary. APGI began the relicensing process in 2002 and spent more than five years working with stakeholders to reach an agreement that would improve water quality, enhance recreation opportunities and assist those who depend on the Yadkin River for their water needs.
We reached a Relicensing Settlement Agreement with 22 other organizations, including state and federal agencies, local governments, homeowners and recreational users, business organizations, environmental interest groups and many others. That agreement was submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in May 2007. In April 2008, FERC staff released a Final Environmental Impact Statement recommending a new long-term license for APGI.
FERC issued a temporary, one-year license to APGI in April 2008 while it waits for the State of North Carolina to issue a required water quality certificate for the Yadkin Project. The water quality certificate was issued by the N.C. Division of Water Quality in November 2007, then revoked in April 2008 when it was discovered that the State had failed to publish a required legal notice.
At the request of Stanly County, the N.C. General Assembly has asked the Environmental Review Commission (ERC) to study how a new long-term license for the Yadkin Project might impact the State of North Carolina. The ERC is slated to begin meeting later this week and we will let you know what happens.
I hope you find this blog informative and encourage you to provide feedback, submit comments or post your own blog entry (ask me about this if you are interested). We will post information as frequently, or infrequently, as the circumstances dictate. Enjoy!
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
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2 comments:
The new lic. agreement stated that High Rock will not be lowered as much as in the past, however Alcoa does not explain where the water they must have to make the amount of electricity they want will come from. It must be coming from Badin since the new lic. agreement states that they.(Alcoa) can keep Badin down as much as 5 feet below full pond all year long. Am I wrong Gene. If I am please set me stright.
Thank You,
Joe Sides
Joe,
The Relicensing Settlement Agreement calls for APGI to operate under a more stringent set of rules that will cause us to generate less power at the Yadkin Project. While the agreement is designed to keep more water in High Rock Lake, that change should not impact the water levels in Badin Lake during normal (non-drought) conditions. Over the long term, on average, we expect water levels at Badin Lake to remain within three feet of full.
The most significant change impacting Badin Lake involves the Low Inflow Protocol that takes effect during drought conditions. That protocol requires a greater use of water in Badin Lake to help meet downstream flow requirements. As a result, Badin and High Rock Lake both share the burden that drought conditions place on water supply.
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