Hydropower

Overview April 24, 2014

Hydropower

Aquafornia news October 3, 2018 Water Deeply

Commentary: Will a landslide on the Eel River cause California’s next dam disaster

Pacific Gas & Electric Co. (PG&E) wants to sell its two dams on California’s upper Eel River as soon as possible. Part of a diversion scheme called the Potter Valley Project, the utility wants to get the dams off its balance sheet so badly it is moving to auction them off right in the middle of a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) relicensing process. Scott Dam will be 102 years old, and Cape Horn 112 years old, when their current federal license expires in 2022.

Western Water August 10, 2018 Gary Pitzer Colorado River Basin Map Layperson's Guide to the Colorado River Gary Pitzer

New Leader Takes Over as the Upper Colorado River Commission Grapples With Less Water and a Drier Climate
WESTERN WATER Q&A: Amy Haas, executive director, Upper Colorado River Commission

Amy Haas recently became the first non-engineer and the first woman to serve as executive director of the Upper Colorado River Commission in its 70-year history, putting her smack in the center of a host of daunting challenges facing the Upper Colorado River Basin.

Yet those challenges will be quite familiar to Haas, an attorney who for the past year has served as deputy director and general counsel of the commission. (She replaced longtime Executive Director Don Ostler). She has a long history of working within interstate Colorado River governance, including representing New Mexico as its Upper Colorado River commissioner and playing a central role in the negotiation of the recently signed U.S.-Mexico agreement known as Minute 323.

Aquafornia news July 21, 2014 San Francisco Chronicle

Drought Hinders State’s Emissions Goals

From the San Francisco Chronicle:

No state has done more than California to fight global warming. But a deepening drought could make that battle more difficult and more expensive.

Aquafornia news July 21, 2014

Hydroelectric Power: Aquafornia Water Word of the Week

Aquafornia’s Water Word of the Week from sister site Aquapedia, the Water Education Foundation’s vetted, online water encyclopedia, is Hydroelectric Power.

According to an Aquapedia excerpt, “Hydroelectric power is produced when water turns a turbine connected to a generator. This water is stored behind a dam at elevation. Gravity causes water to drop toward a turbine propeller.

Aquafornia news June 3, 2014 San Jose Mercury News

Historic EPA Global Warming Rules: How Will They Affect California?

From the San Jose Mercury News:

“The Obama administration’s announcement Monday of sweeping new rules aimed at curbing global warming emissions from power plants could boost profits at Silicon Valley companies that make solar panels, energy efficiency software and other clean technology.”

Aquafornia news April 16, 2014 Sacramento Bee

Water Q&A: How is the Drought Affecting Hydroelectric Production?

From The Sacramento Bee:

“Hydroelectric energy production will definitely take a hit this year throughout California, not just at Folsom Dam.”

MID, TID Boards Vote to File Don Pedro License Application

From The Modesto Bee:

“The Modesto and Turlock irrigation districts took a key step Tuesday morning toward using Don Pedro Reservoir for perhaps another half-century.”

Commentary: California Drought Hurting Case for Green Energy

From U-T San Diego, in a commentary by Keith Johnson:

“Among all the terrible things that California’s historic drought promises to bring this year — fallow farm land, dead livestock, more wildfires — there are a couple more nasty treats in store: higher electricity prices and rising greenhouse-gas emissions.

“That’s because the drought is hammering California’s ability to generate electricity from hydroelectric power …”

Drought Cuts Into State’s Hydro Power Supplies

From The Sacramento Bee:

“Never mind the restrictions on watering your lawn. The drought is drying up California’s supply of hydroelectricity, prompting SMUD and other utilities around the state to scramble.”

Modesto, Turlock Irrigation Districts Take Key Step Toward a New Don Pedro License

From The Modesto Bee:

“A massive set of documents traveled across cyberspace Tuesday, laying out plans by the Modesto and Turlock irrigation districts to keep using Don Pedro Reservoir.

Aquafornia news October 3, 2013 Modesto Bee

Santa Clara May Buy Stanislaus Hydropower

From The Modesto Bee:

“The Oakdale and South San Joaquin irrigation districts plan to start selling their hydropower to the city of Santa Clara under a 10-year contract that could mean a big boost in income.”

House Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Hydropower

From the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA):

“The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power held a hearing Thursday entitled “Keeping Hydropower Affordable and Reliable: The Protection of Existing Hydropower Investments and the Promotion of New Development.”

Placer County Water Agency Sounds Alarm Over PG&E Move

From The Sacramento Bee:

“The agency that provides water for much of Placer County has gone public with what it sees as an ominous federal filing by its longtime partner, Pacific Gas and Electric Co.

“For 45 years, the Placer County Water Agency and PG&E have been attached at the hip.”

Hydroelectric Power Deal with Monterey County, Corona Fizzles

From the Monterey County Herald:

“A proposed deal for a Southern California city to purchase hydroelectric power from a Lake Nacimiento plant has evaporated, leaving Monterey County water officials looking for a backup plan.”

Aquafornia news August 16, 2013 Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA)

Judge Orders New Biological Opinion for Yuba River Dams

From the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA):

“A federal court ordered a new biological opinion for Daguerre Point and Englebright dams in a decision handed down this week.

“U.S. District Court Judge Morrison C.

Aquafornia news August 16, 2013 [Yuba-Sutter] Appeal-Democrat

Yuba County Water Agency Happy With Judge’s River Ruling

From the [Yuba-Sutter] Appeal-Democrat:

“A federal agency will have to start from scratch on a new biological opinion on Yuba River fish restoration following a court ruling that effectively scrapped the report.

“Curt Aikens, Yuba County Water Agency general manager, said tossing out the National Marine Fisheries Service’s opinion was the most satisfying part of the court victory.”

U.S. Senate Passes Hydropower Bills

From the Association of California Water Agencies:

“Two bills that would streamline regulations for small hydropower projects were passed through unanimous consent by the U.S. Senate on Thursday, Aug. 1, and are awaiting President Obama’s signature.”

Blog: District Looks at Small Hydro Project on Kings River

From the Fresno Bee Newsroom Blog:

“The Kings River Conservation District wants to study a project to install a small hydroelectric unit on the Kings River near Sanger — creating electricity by using the river’s flow at Gould Weir.”

Learn more about the Kings River on Aquapedia

Aquafornia news July 17, 2013 KCET Rewire blog

Blog: California Signs Off On Project Next to Joshua Tree National Park

From the KCET Rewire blog:

“A giant energy project that would turn an abandoned open pit mine near Joshua Tree National Park into two hydroelectric storage reservoirs got a thumbs-up from California’s main water quality agency this week.”

San Diego Considers Major Hydroelectric Project at San Vicente Reservoir

From the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA):

“Southern California’s energy supply is expected to be tight for at least the next few years due to the permanent closure of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, so alternative energy sources could be at a premium in the region.

“San Diego already is looking ahead at a possible solution.

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