Nov 9 2010
The Aspen City officials are seeking a “conduit exemption” approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to construct a 1.175MW conduit hydropower facility in Colorado. The approval will not give complete licenses required for the project, as it will be installed in an already available pipe or channel. The facility can be developed only after receiving the approval from FERC.
The Castle Creek Energy Center will generate hydropower from water flowing through a sewage pipe, which in turn will avert flooding in the downstream Castle Creek Valley of Thomas Reservoir of the city.
The city’s director of utilities and environmental initiatives, Phil Overeynder commented that the city needed the pipeline for safety reasons and if FERC approves the hydropower proposal, then it would give double benefits.
FERC and the Aspen City officials have been discussing the project since 2007 when nearly 70% of locals voted in favor of the hydropower project, which can reduce 5,000 tons of CO2 emissions produced by traditional power facilities.
Karl Kumli, a lawyer handling legal issues related to water and public utility, commented that the city officials had taken more time to process the project application than the standard legal time to receive complete environmental analysis and getting thorough opinion from the residents.
The city officials said that a conduit exemption demands environmental effects investigation, although it does not require a complete environmental impact report as in the case of complete license proposals.