By Chris Shutes, CSPA FERC Projects Director CSPA has filed comments on the third Draft 401 Water Quality Certification for the relicensing of the Oroville Facilities. The State Water Resources Control Board issued its third draft certification on July 2, 2010. A 401 Certification is required before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission can issue a…

By Chris Shutes, FERC Projects Director CSPA has filed for party status in a proceeding before the Public Utilities Commission. In the proceeding, Pacific Gas & Electric Company seeks permission to charge its ratepayers $40 Million to initiate a FERC licensing process to study and likely construct a pumped storage project in the Mokelumne River…

By Chris Shutes, FERC Projects Director CSPA filed comments today on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the relicensing of the McCloud – Pit Hydroelectric Project (FERC #2106). CSPA focused on two major areas of concern. First, the DEIS fails to analyze the likely reintroduction of salmon and steelhead to the…

By Chris Shutes, CSPA Water Rights Advocate On April 19, 2010, Potter Valley Irrigation District wrote a letter to FERC asking that PG&E, operator of the Potter Valley hydroelectric project. be ordered to analyze the amount of water diverted from the Eel River through Potter Valley Powerhouse since new flow requirements for the project were…