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The Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI) has certified three more projects that meet their low-impact certification criteria. The three projects are Winooski in Vermont, Farmers Irrigation District in Oregon; and the Robertson and Ashuelot in New Hampshire.

Through the certification, LIHI recognizes that these projects have avoided or reduced their environmental impacts as required in their certification process.

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. 

In its application filed in October 2009, Brookfield stated that it had replaced one of its units (Unit 3 runner) with a more efficient runner which resulted in an increase in energy generation by 368,000 kWh. This amounts to an increase of 0.5% in generation.

With approval from FERC, the Holtwood hydroelectric facility can now increase its capacity from 107.2MW to 195.5MW. FERC's order issued on October 30 has also extended the license term. With the extension, the license will now expire on August 31, 2030.

After withdrawing its application to add capacity to its Holtwood Project last year, PPL Corporation is now looking to revisit the plan. In a letter filed last Thursday, PPL has requested FERC to accept an application which it states is virtually the same as the one submitted to FERC in December 2007 (and withdrawn in December 2008).