NID hears update on FERC license for Yuba-Bear River Project New proposal to construct a second hydroelectric power station at base of the dam at Rollins Reservoir Published on Oct 29, 2010 - 5:10:40 AM
GRASS VALLEY, Calif. Oct. 28, 2010 - Directors of the Nevada Irrigation District on Wednesday (Oct. 27) heard an update on the district’s ongoing project to obtain a new federal license for operation of the Yuba-Bear River Project.
NID built and continues to operate the project under a federal license issued in 1963. The original license expires in April 2013 and NID is working to obtain a new 50-year license.
General Manager Ron Nelson and relicensing consultant James Lynch of HDR/DTA in Sacramento briefed the board on the district’s progress and plan to submit its Draft License Application on Nov. 1 to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Lynch said planning for the new license has included three years of studies and more than 150 meetings with governmental agencies, stakeholders and the general public.
He said the draft application anticipates increased water releases into some area waterways and a resulting $500,000 annual revenue reduction due to lost opportunities for power generation.
Also included in the draft application is a proposal to construct a second hydroelectric power station at base of the dam at Rollins Reservoir. Lynch said the plant would be completed in a five-year period following 2013 at an estimated cost of $20 million to $25 million. Power revenues could pay for the plant in a relatively short time, he noted.
NID’s Yuba-Bear Project is an extensive water and power system that ranges from Jackson Meadows on the northeast to Rollins Reservoir on the southwest. It has nine reservoirs, four powerhouses and many related facilities and can produce enough clean hydroelectricity to power about 60,000 homes.
Finance Manager Marie Owens said the overall $10 million to $15 million relicensing project is being financed through the district’s hydroelectric reserves, which are separate from the Water Division.
In other business, directors:
* agreed to seek a $268,000 grant from the state Department of Conservation to fund the hiring of a watershed/water conservation coordinator who would work with the district and also share expertise with other agencies in the region. Asst. General Manager Tim Crough said the district planned to fill a similar position next year and could save some money through the collaborative effort.
* approved a resolution of necessity for the district to acquire a roadside easement for the Banner Cascade Pipeline project. The district plans call for water lines along the front of a five-acre parcel on Wings of Morning Drive. Directors encourage staff and the property owner to continue negotiations.
The next regular meeting of the NID Board of Directors will be held at 9 a.m. on Nov. 10 at the NID Business Center in Grass Valley. NID board meetings are open to the public.
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