Preliminary Decisions – Midterm Recertifications of the Androscoggin River Projects, LIHI #173-176 and 188, NH

August 18, 2026: The Low Impact Hydropower Institute has preliminarily approved Low Impact recertification for the Sawmill, Cross Power, Upper Gorham, Shelburne, and Cascade Hydroelectric Projects. The mid-term review applications and reviewer reports are available at these links. The certifications each include three conditions to ensure that FERC relicensing implementation measures are timely met.

• Sawmill, LIHI #173
• Cross Power, LIHI #174
• Upper Gorham, LIHI #175
• Shelburne, LIHI #176
• Cascade, LIHI #188

These decisions are preliminary pending the 30-day appeal window. Only those who commented on the initial applications during the 60-day comment period are eligible to file an appeal. Such appeal needs to include an explanation as to how one or more of the Projects do not meet the LIHI criteria. Appeal requests can be submitted by email to comments@lowimpacthydro.org with “Androscoggin River NH Projects” in the subject line, or by mail addressed to the Low Impact Hydropower Institute, 68 Harrison Ave Ste 605, PMB 113938 Boston, Massachusetts 02111-1929. 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 September 17, 2026. If no appeal requests are received the new certification terms will be August 31, 2026 through August 30, 2036 for all but the Cascade Project whose term will be March 1, 2026 through February 29, 2036.