Hydro power project seeks new license

A corporate-owned hydro-electric project near Seneca has begun a lengthy process to win a new license—at a time when an act of nature idled the operations there.  A lightning strike two weeks ago halted power production, but a representative of the Coneross Power Corporation says once the damaged equipment is repaired the plant will be back on line.  A tour of the project, followed by a project briefing, drew attention today to a two-year process in which the hydro project will request a 30-year re-license from “FERC”—the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.  Part of the hydro operations is visible from the highway 59 bridge over the Coneross Creek.  On the grounds are a 25-foot high, 288-foot long concrete dam, a 123-foot spillway, and three generating units of 889 kilowatts.  The hydro project’s one commercial customer is the nearby city of Seneca which buys a small amount of power to supplement its electric power load.   Coneross Power Corporation is a subsidiary of Enel Green Power North America.  And as representatives at the meeting said, the project is in the business of producing clean power and reducing carbons.  The meeting that followed the project site visit attracted officials of both the state DNR and the U-S Fish and Wildlife Services.  Those agencies monitor fish, wildlife, and fishing and other recreation activities along the waterway.