Over the past several months, Coalition members have worked to broaden the energy base in Washington State by promoting efficiency upgrades at existing dams, focusing on new renewable energy technologies, and opposing new dam construction where this would lead to marginal new energy at a high environmental cost. 

Through an order issued on June 2, 2010, FERC has certified the increased hydropower generation from Mystic Lake hydropower project (P-2301) in Montana to be eligible for tax credits. 

The last day of 2009 saw seven hydropower projects filing their application for certification with the Low Impact Hydropower Institute. In 2009 alone, the Institute issued certifications for nine projects throughout the country. So far, there are 46 LIHI certified projects in 24 states.

FERC issued a certification order yesterday confirming increased generation in the Piney hydroelectric project through efficiency improvement. The project is located on the Clarion River in Clarion County, Pennsylvania.

The end of Washington's 2009 legislative session saw constituent based Initiative 937 protected and still in effect -- but not without almost daily changes to both energy and river impacts.  

HRC POSITION ON RENEWABLE ENERGY POLICIES

The Hydropower Reform Coalition has published a position statement describing what types of hydropower deserve incentives and how hydropower fits in a renewable energy policy.

Hydropower and Washington’s Renewable
Energy Goals

In support of Washington's citizen based Initiative 937 (promoting development of renewable energy and the new jobs, investment, science and economy this would mean for the state), the Hydropower Reform Coalition developed this Hydropower FAQ to offset the call to build new dams and to allow these dams to be eligible to review renewable energy credits. 

LOW POWER, BIG PROBLEMS

Hydopower Reform Coalition's paper on how Low-Power Hydropower Dams Hurt Rivers.

Whether it is in response to the environmental crisis of climate change or our overreliance on imported fuels, it is clear that America needs to act quickly to replace fossil fuel energy technologies with renewable energy. It is equally imperative, however, that we do not destroy the environment we are trying to save by blindly rushing to develop low-emissions energy sources that will result in serious environmental harm. We will not solve our energy problems by building new dams – especially inefficient low-power dams where the energy benefits fail to outweigh the environmental impacts – but we will cause irreparable harm to our rivers.

The additional generation at Raquette River project in New York will now be eligible to receive tax credits under EPAct 2005.