FERC on Dec. 7 went out for comment on a Feb. 19 application from Energy Resources USA Inc. for a preliminary permit to study the feasibility of the New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam Hydroelectric Project, to be located at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam on the Savannah River in Aiken County, S.C.
The sole purpose of a preliminary permit, if issued, is to grant the permit holder priority to file a license application during the three-year permit term. FERC would expect the company during the permit term to prepare a license application for the project.
The project would consist of:
- A 300-foot, 90-foot-wide intake area
- A 98-foot, 45-foot-wide powerhouse containing two vertical Kaplan turbine-generator units with a total capacity of 8 MW
- A 350-foot, 120-foot-wide tailrace
- A 60-foot, 50-foot-wide substation
- A 6.54-mile, 69-kV transmission line
The estimated annual generation of the project would be 68.5 gigawatt-hours, and it would operate as directed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The deadline for filing comments, motions to intervene, competing applications (without notices of intent), or notices of intent to file competing applications is 60 days from the issuance of this Dec. 7 notice.
