HYDROPOWER TRENDS. RMS/SORP, Boise, Idaho May 2016

Transcription

1 HYDROPOWER TRENDS RMS/SORP, Boise, Idaho May 2016 Joan Harn, National Park Service Thomas O Keefe, American Whitewater Susan Rosebrough, National Park Service John Seebach, American Rivers Rupak Thapaliya, American Rivers/Hydropower Reform Coalition

2

3 Learning Objectives Identify information resources about hydropower development potential; Identify policy initiatives affecting hydropower development; and Identify tools and information to effectively participate in relicensing and new hydropower development.

4 Topics/Format DOE Hydropower Resource Assessments and Vision Case Studies What is Sustainable Hydropower? DOE Hydropower Vision/Roadmap Legislative Proposals Call to Action Resources to Get Involved Take Home Messages

5 Some questions to start: Is it possible to develop new sustainable hydropower? Is it possible for hydropower involving new dam construction to be sustainable? (vs. hydropower involving existing water infrastructure) If so, what does sustainable new hydropower development look like?

6 DOE Hydropower Resource Assessments Key Take Home Messages: There is a lot of potential for adding new hydropower on existing dams and in free flowing streams. These may be places you want to protect. DOE s resource assessments are driving policy recommendations. This is the purpose behind the DOE s Hydropower Vision.

7 Department of Energy Hydropower Vision This landmark vision will establish the analytical basis for an ambitious roadmap to usher in a new era of growth in sustainable domestic hydropower over the next half century. Included in this effort will be: A close examination of the current the state of the hydropower industry A discussion of the costs and benefits to the nation arising from additional hydropower A roadmap addressing the challenges to achieving higher levels of hydropower deployment within a sustainable national energy mix.

8 DOE Hydropower Vision Non-powered Dams

9

10

11

12 Examples of Unrealistic New Hydropower Potential Penobscot, ME Klamath, OR Patapsco, MD Iron Gate Dam, Klamath River, Thomas O Keefe

13

14

15 Hydro Potential Pacific Northwest

16 Wild Olympics

17

18 Elwha River Post Dam Removal

19

20

21

22

23 Wild Olympics

24

25

26 Chelan River

27

28

29 South Fork Skykomish Watershed 9 Listed Fish Species

30 Sunset Falls Hydroelectric Project Site was proposed in the past New diversion, hydropower project Create a 1.1 mile bypass diverting up to 2500 cfs reach over two scenic waterfalls 30 MW / 22,500 homes

31 Existing Protections and Environmental Concerns Canyon Falls, Photo Credit: Monroe Monitor Eligible/Suitable, but not designated Nationwide Rivers Inventory Kaykers, near Sunset Falls Photo Credit: Thomas O Keefe State Scenic River Sunset Falls Photo Credit: SnoPUD

32 Commission to Issue Final Draft License Application Submitted Winter 2016 Status SnoPUD to submit the Final License Application - Winter 2017 FERC to begin the Environmental Document Process Skykomish River Photo credit: Herald

33 Hydro Potential Great Basin

34 Bear River-Battle Creek Hydro Potential: 20.5 MW 2 listed fish species

35 Bear River Narrows Create a new dam, 4.5 mile long reservoir Size: 10 MW; 7500 homes Proposed by: Twin Lakes Canals Hydropower & water storage for irrigation

36 Existing Protections & Environmental Concerns Eligible/Suitable but Not designated Onieda Canyon, Photo Credit: Kevin Lewis

37

38 EIS submitted, FERC staff recommends license denial Awaiting final order from the Commission Status

39 Sustainable Hydropower What does sustainable hydropower mean, anyway? Is new sustainable hydropower possible? Where are the good places to develop new hydropower and meet environmental and social objectives?

40 Sustainability Approach Maintains and increases low-carbon hydropower generation while concurrently: 1) providing environmental and social benefits at the basin- and nationalscales through integrated planning and management and 40 1) avoiding impacts at the local scale through best practices in siting, design, operation and technology.

41 planned (sited and designed), constructed, operated and decommissioned in a way that meets or exceeds social, environmental and economic principles: Draft principle areas to benchmark a vision for sustainable growth Social Public health and safety Transparent and participatory decision processes Tribal treaty rights and cultural heritage Recreation Environmental Ecosystems and biodiversity Flow and sediment regimes Water Quality Water and GHG footprint Economic Life cycle approach Informed markets Performance of existing infrastructure Coupled financial security and flexibility

42 Potential Environmental Objectives aximize the persistence of the full complement of native species, ecosystems and their services at national, basin and local cales by investing in hydropower development that: ensitive and high alue communities Avoids nation's remaining sensitive and high value freshwater and coastal systems Sustains habitat for State and Federally listed and candidate species Supports viability of migratory fish populations onnectivity low Regime ediment ater Quality ater and GHG Sustains or increases functionally connected riverine habitats Maintains key components of the flow regime including seasonality, baseflows, extreme flow events, and short-term variability Supports sediment regimes that sustain habitat for riverine, wetland, floodplain and estuarine ecosystems. Supports water quality for beneficial uses of waterways including DO, temperature ph, sediment and nutrients Minimizes emissions of GHG's and consumptive water use losses)

43 Potential Social Objectives Public health and safety Minimizes risk to downstream communities as a result of operations or modifications to existing or construction of new facilities Governance Cultural heritage Water supply Recreation Ensures transparent, participatory, and timely decision processes Honors indigenous tribal treaty rights Supports the cultural heritage of local, national, and international communities Ensures the provision of adequate water supplies for local communities, and public purposes Maintains or increases recreation opportunities and access Maintains or increases aesthetic experience

44 Back to the DOE Hydropower Vision Roadmap a roadmap addressing the challenges to achieving higher levels of hydropower deployment within a sustainable national energy mix.

45 DOE Hydropower Vision Roadmap Projects - draft 1. Increasing hydropower resilience to climate change. 2. Better integrating hydropower with variable renewable resources and renewable energy markets. 3. Improved, lower-cost hydropower technologies. 4. Evaluating environmental sustainability of new hydropower. 5. Removing market / financing barriers to new hydro. 6. Improving regulatory outcomes.

46 Legislative Proposals Industry says legislation needed to modernize an outdated process: Improved coordination Reduced delay Better information Actual effect of legislative proposals: Further centralizes authority with FERC Undermines / weakens natural resource agency authorities and forces them to adhere to arbitrary timelines or lose their authorities. More reliance on existing studies.

47 Call to Action Identify the hydropower potential in your river and watershed. Identify your objectives and how you can measure them. Be proactive about river protection - know the potential threats to your river and consider options for protection.

48 Hydropower Reform Coalition Hydro Guides We wrote the book on hydropower licensing Hydropower licensing Science Activist s Preparation Shorelands Media Flows and Recreation Hydrokinetic Energy Projects & Recreation: A Guide to Assessing Impacts

49

50 Other Hydropower Resources: DOE Hydropower Vision - ORNL Hydropower - ORNL HydroGIS Viewer - NREL RAPID Hydropower Toolkit - NPS Hydropower Assistance - Hydropower Reform Coalition- American Whitewater - American Rivers -

51 Take Home Messages Increasing interest in expanding hydropower Hydropower policy today is increasingly driven by interest in expanding clean renewable energy. You can influence where and how hydropower is developed and protect the rivers you care about. Be vigilant - ask for help and plan ahead!