FERC Relicensing in Western North Carolina
Western North Carolina Alliance
- Program Environment
- Program Area Addressing the Freshwater Challenge
- Grant Amount $60,000
- Grant Period July 1, 2005–June 30, 2007
- Location Asheville, NC, United States
- Geographic Focus North Carolina
About this grant
The Western North Carolina Alliance participates in the relicensing process for hydropower projects in two river basins in the state. Multiyear funding will enable the alliance to continue working to make sure that freshwater conservation parameters are included in the final license agreements for the Little Tennessee and Catawba-Wateree hydropower projects. Highlights of the alliance’s work during the past two years included promoting stronger conservation parameters in the Little Tennessee project; submitting comments to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) outlining the need for stronger habitat protections, increased flows and improved shoreline management plans in the Catawba-Wateree relicensing; and hosting a "FERC 101" workshop to help stakeholders in McDowell County better understand the relicensing process.