The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Nov. 3 granted a July 7 preliminary permit application from Albany Engineering Corp. allowing it three exclusive years to study the feasibility of the 240-MW Lyon Mountain Energy Storage Project, to be located in the Hamlet of Lyon Mountain in the Town of Dannemora in Clinton County, New York.
The project would consist of: upper and lower reservoirs comprising various existing underground levels and voids within the Lyon Mountain mine; two 15-foot-diameter, 2,000-foot-long vertical water conveyance structures between the upper reservoir and the powerhouse, consisting of grouted steel casings within existing bedrock; a 15-foot-diameter, 2,000-foot-long horizontal water conveyance structure between the powerhouse and the lower reservoir, consisting of grouted steel casings within existing bedrock; an 80-foot-wide by 300-foot-long by 40-foot-high underground powerhouse chamber; a 40-foot-wide by 275-foot-long underground switchgear and equipment chamber; 100 turbine-generators each rated at 2.4 MW; and a 115-kV transmission line about 1,000 feet long from the powerhouse to an existing transmission line.
The estimated annual generation of the Lyon Mountain Project would be 421 gigawatt-hours.
Said the Nov. 3 FERC approval: “During the course of the permit, the Commission expects that the permittee will carry out prefiling consultation and study development leading to the possible development of a license application. The prefiling process begins with preparation of a Notice of Intent (NOI) and Pre-Application Document (PAD) pursuant to sections 5.5 and 5.6 of the Commission’s regulations. The permittee must use the Integrated Licensing Process unless the Commission grants a request to use an alternative process (Alternative or Traditional Licensing Process). Such a request must accompany the NOI and PAD and set forth specific information justifying the request. Should the permittee file a development application, notice of the application will be published, and interested persons and agencies will have an opportunity to intervene and to present their views concerning the project and the effects of its construction and operation.”
A project contact is: Wendy Jo Carey, P.E., Albany Engineering Corp., 5 Washington Square, Albany, NY 12205, wendy@albanyengineering.com, 518-456-7712 Ext. 401.
