Author: research

Turning Our Vast Hydro Potential Into Environmentally-Sound Electricity

Our Challenge
Licensing and permit processes for small hydro projects (less than 5MW) are costly, complicated and time-consuming. The cost of permitting prevents many small projects from moving forward.
Federal regulations require sign-off from multiple state offices with often contradictory goals, leading to bureaucratic gridlock.
Vermont legislators must immediately ask the Federal government for a simplified process to permit environmentally-sound, small hydro projects.
Changes Needed Now
In Washington:
Grant state jurisdiction over small hydro projects - Alaska has this, all states should.
Simplify regulations by FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) on small hydro.
Allow states to permit “net-metering” activity for small hydro without federal jurisdiction.
In Montpelier:
Simplify the Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) permitting process for small hydro by allowing data from similar projects to substantiate the permit application.
Simplify the process for attaining a 401 Water Quality Certificate on small hydro projects.

Vermont once ran on hydro power. In centuries past, hundreds of small mills dotted our rivers and streams powering our way of life. Now, global warming and our over-reliance on non-sustainable and CO2-producing energy sources require us to reconsider small hydro power and other renewable energy technologies. It is time to reclaim this power through development of locally-owned and operated small hydro-electric projects. Many of our waterways can generate sustainable energy again without harming our environment, but your energy is needed to make it happen.
Our Opportunity
Small hydro is a proven technology. No new research is needed for equipment production.
Hydro is reliable because water flows 24/7.
Small hydro would use some of our existing dams and diversion techniques called “run-of-the-river” to cleanly harness power.
Studies have shown that environmentally sound, small hydro can produce a substantial portion of our peak demand needs.
Even more potential exists using low-impact damless diversion and conduit techniques.
Small hydro is a necessary part of Vermont’s Energy Independence.

Our Task Ahead
Speak Out: At annual Town Meetings Vermont citizens must send a clear message to our Local, State and Federal leaders that now is the time for action on small hydro projects.
Get Involved: The Small Hydro Referendum must get onto Town Meeting agendas via petition drives. Go to: www.revermont.org/technology/hydro to download the full text and help get the referendum onto your town meeting agenda. If you would like to help with the referendum, please contact Nancy Potak at (802) 533-9206 / npotak@vtlink.net.
Learn/Advocate: Visit websites, read books, ask experts about small hydro power - become an advocate in your community on the potential of this and other renewable sources of energy:
www.microhydropower.net
www1.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro
www.serg-info.org
www.revermont.org
www.stopglobalwarming.org
www.vpirg.org
www.communityhydro.biz
www.canyonhydro.com (microhydro primer)
Alternative Energy Demystified by Stan Gibilisco
An Inconvenient Truth - film & book by Al Gore
Microhydro by Scott Davis
Highly illustrated and practical . Covers principles, design site considerations, and equipment options.

Proposed Referendum

Recognizing Vermont’s huge potential for generating clean and sustainable electrical energy from our natural water resources;
And due to the upcoming expirations of the HydroQuebec and Vermont Yankee contracts;
And concerned about the well-documented effects of global warming upon our planet;
We, the undersigned voters of the Town of , call upon the Selectboard, Governor and our State and Federal Legislators to: Simplify state and federal permitting to allow for more rapid development of small-scale, environmentally sound hydro-electric projects.

Vote Energy Independence for Vermont

Go With the Flow!