Low Impact Certification means that the hydropower facility has been found by the Institute to meet or exceed the Institute’s Certification Criteria which address eight key areas: ecological flow regimes, water quality, upstream fish passage, downstream fish passage and protection, shoreline and watershed protection, threatened and endangered species protection, cultural and historic resource protection and recreational resources. Certification is designed to provide consumers with assurance that a facility has avoided or reduced their environmental impacts pursuant to the Low Impact Hydropower Institute’s criteria. Once certified, the owner or operator can market the power from the facility to consumers as produced by a LIHI certified Facility. Certification from the Institute may also qualify the power produced for other “green” energy certification programs.

Application Stages:

  1. Review in Process
  2. Public Comment Period
  3. Preliminary Decision
  4. Appeal Period
  5. Final Decision

Applications Under Review:

Cert No. Project Name River State(s) Review Status
38 Rumford Falls Androscoggin River ME Review in process. Public comment period ends May 12, 2019
113 Milford Penobscot River ME Review in process. Public comment period ends May 6, 2019
n/a Eastman Falls Pemigewasset

River

 NH Review in process. Public comment period ends April 20, 2019
8 Nisqually Nisqually River WA Review in process. Public comment period ended February 8, 2019
149 Pownal Hoosic River VT Final Decision March 18, 2019
148 Waterbury Little River VT Final Decision March 11, 2019.
37 Kingsley Dam North Platte and Platte NE Preliminary Decision February 7, 2019.  Appeals period ended March 10, 2019
30 Lake Chelan Chelan River WA Preliminary Decision January 16, 2019.  Appeals period ended February 17, 2019
98 Weybridge Otter Creek VT Preliminary Decision March 11, 2019.  Appeals period ends April 11, 2019
N/A Willow Island Ohio River OH, WV Review in process. Public comment period closed.
99 Middlebury Lower Otter Creek VT Review in process, awaiting additional information. Public comment period closed.