One Drop at a Time: Challenges for Hydro power
by
Jordan Shefte
Story Created:
Feb 8, 2012 at 8:03 PM CDT
Story Updated:
Feb 8, 2012 at 8:03 PM CDT
Earlier on News 5 at 5:00 in our Special Report One Drop at time, we told you about how new regulations on coal power energy plants will cause rates to rise. It's why alternatives, like hydropower, are becoming increasingly important.
And that power can be found in our own backyard, through canals, pipes, and ditches.
That seems like a great idea , right? One problem. In the second part of our special report Jordan Shefte explains why it's available energy, that's unable to be used.
This canal is the perfect spot to install small-scale hydropower.
But during the summer months, thousands of gallons of water flow through, without being converted to energy.
Why?
Because currently, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has a federal policy in place where licensing is needed to install a hydropower system.
However, that licensing is expensive, and small-scale projects would not generate enough income to validate the cost.
"A local entity told me that the actual apparatus would cost ten thousand dollars, but the regulatory burden of having to prove this and that would be over one hundred thousand dollars that really wouldn't be necessary for such a small project," said Congressman Adrian Smith.
To make small-scale hydropower more feasible for rural communities, Congressman Adrian Smith has introduced the Small Scale Hydropower Enhancement Act, also known as H.R. 795, into Congress.
"Well it's a small hydro-power bill that would relieve these projects from these heavy regulatory licensing process of the federal energy regulatory commission," Smith said.
H.R. 795 would exempt any hydropower project that generates less than one and a half megawatts from FERQ regulations which in turn would make small-scale hydro-power a possibility for rural communities.
"If, in fact, we got an extension from the Ferq re-liscensing, we potentially could create power here if we're willing to invest in the infrastructure to actually accommodate that power," said Loup Basin Reclamation District General Manager Tom Knutson.
Not only would the passing of the bill allow utility companies to mix in alternative energy sources.
"If we could get more hydropower we would take it because it's good power, we've had it for a long time, it's just that it's not available," said Hastings Utilities Manager Marv Schultes.
But it would allow local irrigation districts, like the one Tom Knutson manages, to generate additional revenue and increase domestic energy production.
"Honestly, it could be an answer to part of the concerns as you look across the nation," said Knutson.
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