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By PAMELA C. TURFA pamt@leader.net
Friday, March 14, 2003 Page: 1B
For the Record: 3/15/03 April 13 is the deadline to file comments about
Universal Electric Power’s application for a preliminary permit to study the
possibility of building a hydro-electric plant near Francis E. Walter Dam on
the Lehigh River. The date was incorrect in a story Friday on page 1B.
Comments may be e-mailed to the commission at www.ferc.gov or mailed to The
Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First St., N.E.,
Washington D.C. 20426. Mailed comments should include an original and eight
copies. The filing should include the word “COMMENTS” in capital letters.
for 1BAn Ohio-based company is considering building a “green energy”
hydroelectric power plant on the Lehigh River downstream from the Francis E.
Walter Dam near White Haven.
Universal Electric Power of Akron has asked the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission to renew a three-year preliminary permit for the project.
The permit gives Universal Electric priority for use of the site on federal
property.
The project would not involve the dam, reservoir or surrounding U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers land, according to the permit application.
The project would include installation of five turbines, a powerhouse,
input and discharge pipes and transmission lines. The transmission lines would
connect to an existing substation or transformer about 300 feet from the
project.
“This project will fulfill the public interest for a less expensive, more
reliable and environmentally sound source of renewable energy,” the company
wrote in its permit application.
“The approval of this project would also develop the water resources of
the area without damage to the existing environment, while reducing the acid
rain and greenhouse effects associated with coal- and oil-fueled power
plants.”
The plant’s five turbines would have a combined capacity of 10.3 megawatts
– large enough to power more than 7,500 residential homes, said Ron
Feltenberger, executive vice president of Universal Electric.
The electricity produced would be sold wholesale, according to the permit
application.
If Universal decides to go ahead with the project, it would have to apply
to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for a license. A commission
spokeswoman emphasized the license application is separate from the permit
application.
Although the White Haven project is one of about 100 preliminary permits
held by Universal Electric, “there is a pretty high degree of (the project)
happening,” Feltenberger said.
A number of Pennsylvania groups have shown “the desire to take advantage
of a renewable source that’s already there.”
And the site itself is more conducive to a hydroelectric plant than many
other sites, he said. “You have one of the better sites in Pennsylvania.”
Universal Electric Power uses a patented turbine design developed by
Feltenberger and his brother, Bruce. Bruce Feltenberger is president and chief
executive officer of the 5-year-old company.
“In essence what we’ve done is develop a new approach to building
hydroelectric power plants,” Feltenberger said. The plants can be built in
six to eight weeks instead of months because they don’t require the heavy
civil works that hydro traditionally involves.
Construction of a traditional hydroelectric plant often involves blasting
rock and reconstructing part of the dam. Universal’s technology would not
involve dam reconstruction or rock-blasting; its turbines can be installed
without upsetting the river, he said.
Universal’s turbine also operates in lower water-flow situations than a
traditional turbine requires.
The company promotes its technology as cleaner and cheaper to operate than
other production methods.
“We’re not creating an issue that environmentalists are going to say,
`You’re making a mess of this.’ ”
The Lehigh River Stocking Association is concerned about any changes that
might disrupt the river as a fish habitat, said Jim Slinsky, executive vice
president.
Slinsky has not seen Universal’s proposal.
But, he pointed out, the association has sued the Corps of Engineers for
the way it uses the dam to manage river levels. That lawsuit is active, he
said.
If the association believes the company’s plan would interfere with the
association’s interests, “we would probably extend our lawsuit,” Slinsky
said.
Comments about Universal Electric’s application for a permit renewal may be
e-mailed to the commission at www.ferc.gov or mailed to The Secretary, Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First St., N.E., Washington D.C. 20426.
Mailed comments should include an original and eight copies. The filing
should include the word “COMMENTS” in capital letters. The comment deadline
is March 13.
Pamela C. Turfa, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7177.