The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Aug. 1 granted an April 1 application from Swanton Hydro LLC for a preliminary permit to study for up to three years the feasibility of the Lower Swanton Dam Hydroelectric Project, to be located on the Missisquoi River in the Village of Swanton, Franklin County, Vermont.
The proposed project would consist of: the existing 335-foot-long, 12-foot-high concrete gravity Swanton dam that includes a 331-foot-long spillway with 2-foot-high wooden flashboards; an existing 170-acre impoundment with a normal water surface elevation of 112 feet above mean sea level; a new 35-foot-long, 55-foot-wide intake structure with trashracks; a new 100-foot-long, 55-foot-wide, 25-foot-high powerhouse containing two turbine-generator units with a total installed capacity of 850 kW; a new 45-foot-long, 45-foot-wide, 18-foot-deep tailrace divided into two parts by a new 50-foot-long concrete training wall; and a new 210-foot-long, 12.47- kilovolt transmission line and transformer that would connect the turbine-generator units to the regional distribution grid.
The project would produce an estimated average annual energy generation of 3,580 megawatt-hours. There are no federal lands associated with the project.
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 applicant contact is: William F. Scully, P.O. Box 338, North Bennington, Vermont 05257, phone (802) 379-2469.
