Multi-state utility FirstEnergy Corp. applied Sept. 4 to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to transfer 10 hydropower licenses covering 11 hydro plants of 530 MW in three states to Harbor Hydro Holdings LLC, a unit of LS Power Group.
FirstEnergy announced in May it had begun implementation of a plan to sell up to 1,240 MW of unregulated non-core hydroelectric assets. An LS Power affiliate purchased generating assets of PPL Corp. in 2011 including PPL’s one-third share in Safe Harbor Water Power Corp., owner of the 380.39-MW Safe Harbor hydroelectric project (No. 1025) on the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania.
FirstEnergy’s application for transfer includes:
- 451-MW Seneca Pumped-Storage (No. 2280), licensed as the Kinzua project for Kinzua Dam, which impounds its lower reservoir on the Allegheny River in Pennsylvania;
- 9.5-MW Allegheny Lock & Dam 5 (No. 3671) on the Allegheny River in Pennsylvania;
- 8.5-MW Allegheny Lock & Dam 6 (No. 3494) on the Allegheny River in Pennsylvania;
- 51.2-MW Lake Lynn (No. 2459) on the Cheat River in West Virginia;
- 2.84-MW Millville (No. 2343) on the Shenandoah River in West Virginia;
- 1.9-MW Dam No. 4 (No. 2516) on the Potomac River in West Virginia;
- 1.2-MW Dam No. 5 (No. 2517) on the Potomac River in West Virginia;
- 750-kW Warren (No. 2391) on the Shenandoah River in Virginia;
- 3-MW Luray and Newport (No. 2425) comprising the 1.6-MW Luray development and the 1.4-MW Newport development on the South Fork Shenandoah River in Virginia; and
- 860-kW Shenandoah (No. 2509) on the South Fork Shenandoah River in Virginia.
FirstEnergy said a sale agreement was reached in August and, if approved, is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2013. The agreement is subject to closing conditions including approvals of FERC, the Virginia Corporation Commission, and other entities.
The utility said the 35 employees of the hydro plants are expected to be retained by Harbor Hydro.
FirstEnergy said the sale represents less than 3 percent of its generating capacity. Its subsidiary, Allegheny Generating Co., will continue to own 1,200 MW of the 2,484-MW Bath County Pumped-Storage project (No. 2716) in Virginia. Additionally, its subsidiary, Jersey Central Power & Light, will continue to own 200 MW of the 364.5-MW Yards Creek Pumped-Storage project (No. 2309) in New Jersey.
