Lexington MA (March 5, 2020): The Low Impact Hydropower Institute has preliminarily approved Low Impact Recertification for the Penacook Upper Hydroelectric Project, LIHI #52. There is one mandatory and one option condition on the Certificate.

Condition 1: Since the Project is in relicensing and is likely to receive a new FERC license during the new LIHI Certification term, the facility Owner shall provide to LIHI as part of the annual compliance reports, a brief status summary of the FERC licensing progress listing significant agency interactions that have occurred in the past year that are relevant to any LIHI criteria, the results of any relicensing studies, and highlighting major topics of agreement or disagreement.  LIHI reserves the right to modify conditions and/or reassess Certification in light of new agency recommendations or if a new license changes Project operations or facilities related to the LIHI criteria.

Condition 2 (optional): If at any time prior to six months before the expiration of the Certification term the Facility Owner has implemented upstream eel passage at the Project in advance of a new FERC license, LIHI will review that information and determine whether or not to award a PLUS standard and extend the Certificate term for three additional years.

This decision is preliminary pending the 30-day appeal window. Only those who commented on the initial application during the 60-day comment period are eligible to file an appeal. Such appeal needs to include an explanation as to how the Project does not meet the LIHI criteria. Appeal requests can be submitted by email to comments@lowimpacthydro.org with “Penacook Upper Hydroelectric Project” in the subject line, or by mail addressed to the Low Impact Hydropower Institute, 329 Massachusetts Ave, Suite 6, Lexington, MA 02420. All requests will be posted to the website.  The applicant will have an opportunity to respond and any response will also be posted. Requests must be received by 5 pm Eastern time on April 4, 2020.  The full application and reviewers report are available HERE.

If no appeal requests are received and the decision becomes final, the Certification term for the Project will be from September 25, 2019 to September 24, 2024, with the option to extend the term until September 24, 2027.