Despite strong opposition from stakeholders, including HRC members, FERC has issued a preliminary permit to Boundary Creek Hydro, a subsidiary of Symbiotics seeking to develop hydropower on the Boundary Creek near Bonners, Idaho.

As of December 2010, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission listed 27 separate issued or pending preliminary permits for conventional new dam construction in Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington (another 19 in Alaska).

Proposed dams move forward on Washington's Similkameen River.  Enloe Dam announces scoping meetings, preliminary permit issued for Shankers Bend Project.

Public Utility District No. 1 of Okanogan County (PUD, Washington) filed its Draft License Application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on November 7, 2007. The public comment period on this draft is due by February 4th.

In May 2007, Okanogan PUD filed for a preliminary permit to study construction of hydroelectric facilities on a new 260-foot tall dam on Shanker's Bend on the Similkameen River in north-central Washington. October 12, 2007 was the deadline for comments and interventions on this project.

On May 25th, the federal Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that disputes arising from property access and FERC preliminary permits do not require federal court jurisdiction, but belong in district court.

Oregon Wave Energy Partners, LLC has filed a preliminary permit application for a proposed wave energy project that would be located 3-6 miles offshore in Lincoln County, Oregon. Comments and motions to intervene are due to FERC by February 18, 2007.

Oregon Wave Energy Partners, LLC has filed a preliminary permit application for a proposed wave energy project that would be located 2.5 miles offshore in Coos County, Oregon. Comments and motions to intervene are due to FERC by February 18, 2007. 

FERC issued a preliminary permit for a proposed 17.7-MW project on the Mississippi River in Missouri and Illinois.